A rocket launch site in the Amur region of eastern Russia near the Chinese border. Close to the now-abandoned Svobodny facility, its purpose is to reduce dependence on the Baikonur Cosmodrome for both civilian and military launches. Vostochny’s construction began in 2011, and its first rocket launched successfully on 28 April 2016, placing three satellites into orbit. Expansion at Vostochny continues.