There were conflicting reports today about the future of the Svobodnyy launch site today. First, "a high-level source in the executive branch" was reported as saying that the site will no longer be getting budget funds and will be closed by 2009 (but not before all signed launch contracts are honored). Then a Space Forces representative said that he has not heard anything about these plans. Which may well be the case - the government can have its own ideas about Svobodnyy and spending budget money on it. At the same time, cutting off the flow of budget money does not necessarily mean that Svobodnyy will be shut down - the Space Forces will certainly ask to keep it in operation as a commercial facility. But the most ambitious plans - construction of Angara launch pad, for example, are unlikely to materialize.
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So, Angaras will be lauched only from Plesetsk?
I guess so. Assuming that the construction there will be completed, that is.
Angara will also be launched from Biakonur. The Kazakstan governement agreed to pay part of the construction cost.
This is from spacedaily: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/spaceport-05b.html
Putin and Nazarbayev were also expected to inaugurate a 200-million-dollar (163-million-euro) programme to build the Russian-Kazakh space rocket called Baiterek. The launch vehicle will be based the Angara, heavy version.
about Svobodnyy, its been a very long time since a commercial launch took place. Only the START vehicles have been launched with commerical payloads, and those aren't selling too hot.