GORKI. Jan 23 (Interfax) - Roscosmos has asked for additional funding of the Vostochny Cosmodrome project, in which only a quarter of all work has been accomplished, according to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
"They were expected to complete the first stage of construction last year, but they actually built a quarter of the planned facilities, 5 out of 19, although it is not quite right to count their number," Medvedev said at a meeting devoted to the financial and economic condition of the state corporation and its affiliates.
Medvedev called for an evaluation of costs and technological problems.
"Roscosmos has asked for additional funding to complete the construction of the remaining facilities, and this is one of the reasons why I have gathered you here," he said.
The second stage of the construction project was due to begin in 2019 so that Vostochny could prepare to launch heavy rockets by 2021, he said.
"Obviously, the current dynamics prevent them from meeting the deadlines. This means efforts should be made and everything should be done by the relevant entities to finish the construction work," Medvedev said.