Russia launches first rocket from new spaceport

Russia has launched the first rocket from its new spaceport. Although not yet finished, the Vostochny cosmodrome has cost 2bn and taken five years to build so far. When completed in the 2020s, it will launch cosmonauts and Russia's new Angara rocket, which could eventually take people to the moon.

The spaceport became operational on 28 April when a Soyuz-2.1 rocket lifted off carrying three satellites into orbit. Vladimir Putin attended the launch and had words of both congratulation and warning.