New cosmodrome may be built in Russia's Far East

A round table for the prospects of a new cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, near the border with China, opened in Blagoveshchensk on Thursday. The Svobodny cosmodrome was set up in 1994 at the former base of strategic missiles.

The round table is attended by members of the local administration, deputies of the legislature, scientists, public figures. They are anxious because rockets launched from the new cosmodrome will be propelled by heptyl, a liquid fuel. Ecologists consider heptyl a toxic substance. The regional administration claims it will not support the project until an ecological expertise is conducted.

A Russian satellite Zeya was launched from Svobodny in 1997. It was followed by an Israeli and a Swedish satellites.