MOSCOW. Sept 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry is studying the possibility of relocating the Space Forces Headquarters from Moscow to another region, a source told Interfax-AVN.
"Several relocation options are being considered. In particular, the Space Forces headquarters could settle in Krasnoznamensk near Moscow, which currently headquarters the main center for the military orbital group control. This garrison has a good infrastructure, by the way," the source added.
At the same time, it is not ruled out that the Space Forces headquarters could move to Plesetsk (Arkhangelsk region), where the Space Forces have a launch pad, he said.
Another possible new base being considered is St. Petersburg, which has the Mozhaisky Military Space Academy, and Kubinka near Moscow, where the academy has a branch (formerly the Moscow Military Institute of Space Forces Radio Electronics).
"The decision about the headquarters relocation could be made before the end of the year," the source said.
The Russian Defense Ministry was not immediately available for comment on the possible relocation of the Space Forces.
Currently, the Space Troops headquarters and command post are located near the Kaluzhskoye shosse in southern Moscow. It is in charge of the control over missile attack warning systems and monitoring outer space and missile defense. The command post projects the results of express measurement data processing and video images in real time during the liftoff of Rokot, Soyuz and Proton carrier rockets. The on-duty shift of the command post controls spacecraft launched from Plesetsk, Baikonur and Svobodny.
It was reported earlier about plans to move from Moscow to another location the headquarters of the Navy, the Peter the Great Military Academy of Strategic Rocket Forces, and the headquarters of the operational-strategic command of the aerospace defense (the former Moscow District of Air and Missile Defense) and the headquarters of the Military Transport Aviation.