Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome Receives First Telemetry From ISS

The Vostochny Cosmodrome under construction in Russia has received its first telemetry signals from the International Space Station, a spokesman from the Russian Space System company told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"The first seance with the ISS was held...from 11:00 a.m. to 11:22 a.m. Moscow time [08:00-08:22 GMT] on June 17. The second session was held from 1:48 p.m. to 2:01 p.m. Moscow time [10:48-11:01 GMT]," the company spokesman said.

He said the telemetry signals received were satisfactory.

The Vostochny Space Center is under construction in the Amur Region of Russia's Far East since 2012. The first piloted spacecraft is expected to take off from Vostochny in 2018.

Vostochny will enable Russia to launch most missions from its own soil, reducing the country's reliance on the Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan.

Source: Sputnik News