Russia has spent nearly $1 billion on the development of the new Soyuz-5 rocket:
The Soviet Union created the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 1955 to serve as a test site for intercontinental ballistic missiles. A few years later it became the world's first spaceport with the launch of the historic Sputnik 1 and Vostok 1 missions. The sprawling cosmodrome was a mainstay of the Soviet space program.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia began to lease the spaceport from the government of Kazakhstan and currently has an agreement to use the facilities through the year 2050. Russia pays an annual lease fee of about $100 million. Neither country is particularly happy with the relationship; the Kazakh government feels like it is under-compensated, and the Russian government would like it to be in its own country, which is why it has moved in recent years to build a new launch site for most of its rockets in the Far East of Russia, at Vostochny.
[...] Earlier this month a Kazakh news site, KZ24, reported that the Republic of Kazakhstan had seized the property of TsENKI, the Center for Utilization of Ground-based Space Infrastructure, in Kazakhstan. This firm, which is a subsidiary of Roscosmos, is responsible for launch pads and ground support equipment for the Russian space corporation. According to the report, which was translated for Ars by Rob Mitchell, TsENKI is barred from removing any assets or materials from Kazakhstan.
[...] Russia has already spent nearly $1 billion on the development of the new Soyuz-5 rocket and plans for its launch site and ground services. When Ars wrote about the rocket's development back in 2017, it was slated for a debut in 2021. Now it is unlikely to debut before at least 2024—and given the current dispute with Kazakhstan, it likely will be delayed much longer into the future.
(Score: 1, Troll) by khallow on Thursday March 23 2023, @04:53AM (1 child)
I'll note that the common factor in all these foreign plots on Russian sovereignty is that well-known foreign conspirator, Vladimir Putin. Maybe someone ought to do something about him, right?
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday March 24 2023, @03:09PM
Not me, I see Russia invading Kazakhstan if they succeed in destroying the Ukrainians. If that happens, it's WWIII since they're in NATO.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 2) by looorg on Thursday March 23 2023, @06:34AM (12 children)
Sounds like there are some fascists in Kazakhstan that needs to be put down so the population can be liberated for the glory of mother Russia. If they happen to have Oil or microchips or something they are doomed.
(Score: 2) by choose another one on Thursday March 23 2023, @08:49AM (9 children)
> If they happen to have Oil or microchips or something
They don't. They just have some minor comedy movie stars.
They probably do figure that now is as good a time as any to put pressure on Putin, he's a bit busy elsewhere and his long term plan to launch in mother Russia is as bogged down as everything else he's doing.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by looorg on Thursday March 23 2023, @09:02AM (7 children)
That is a very risky gamble. Considering the neighbors of Kazakhstan are basically Russia, China and a lot of the other *istans of the former soviet union. It's a bit north of Afghanistan and Iran in that regard. So neither the USA or Europe will probably do to much about it. It's not like we can easily start to ship weapon to them. So if it would happen I guess we have to resort to some more condemnation and harshly written letters cause none of us are going to war, or offer more then moral support, for Kazakhstan. The Ukraine in that regard is "lucky" that they are a neighbor to the western world. If they hadn't been they would have been utterly f:ed.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Thexalon on Thursday March 23 2023, @11:05AM (5 children)
A lot of the *istans as you call them are pretty friendly to the western world, and not particularly friendly to Russia because they value their independence from it. Another potential ally the Kazakhs would have in the event of a war is Mongolia, which isn't anything resembling a huge military power but is a US ally only about 20 miles away.
Also: "The Ukraine" is a region, "Ukraine" is a country.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2, Touché) by HiThere on Thursday March 23 2023, @01:50PM (1 child)
You mean like "the United States" is a region, not a country?
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Thexalon on Thursday March 23 2023, @05:20PM
I'll put it this way: The guy from Ukraine I worked with a few years back was quite clear on that point. And here's Time explaining the issue [time.com].
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by PiMuNu on Thursday March 23 2023, @05:00PM (2 children)
Eastern Europe has more strategic value than Southern Asia. In terms of GDP, in terms of NATO membership, in terms of influence on Western Europe etc etc
(Score: 2) by ChrisMaple on Thursday March 23 2023, @10:10PM (1 child)
Take a look at wikipedia's List of Countries by GDP. India's GDP is 4 times any Eastern Europe country's GDP. Overall, Southern Asia has a larger GDP than Eastern Europe, even if some Western Asian countries like Turkey are included as part of Eastern Europe.
I do agree that Eastern Europe has more strategic value, but that is in large part due to Russia being an active and nearer threat to Western civilization.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Friday March 24 2023, @09:43AM
Good point. If you are considering India's GDP in the "*stans", then you should consider Germany and Italy's GDP in "Eastern Europe".
Incidentally, if China is cosying up to Russia, maybe this is a good time for Western powers to strip India away from Russia... I assume they thought about that. Actually a good time for Rishi Sunak to play a role.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday March 24 2023, @03:14PM
Mod me redundant because I already pointed out: NATO membership orders all NATO members to defend all other NATO members. Very little liklihood that Putin is THAT insane.
Jesus, guys, if I wanted ignorance I'd go to Facebook.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 24 2023, @09:28AM
You have a weird definition of "don't".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Kazakhstan#Oil [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday March 24 2023, @03:11PM (1 child)
They have something Ukrainians sorely wish for: NATO membership.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 2) by looorg on Friday March 24 2023, @07:31PM
Kazakhstan is not a member of NATO.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Thexalon on Thursday March 23 2023, @10:48AM
This is all part of plan to give Kazakhstan most glorious space program. Also, Russkies too busy in Ukraine to stop us, and Musk spent his money on Twitter.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 23 2023, @11:17AM (2 children)
Anyone have a clue why Russia chose to move their launch site to Vostochny? I just mapped it and it's about 50 miles (80km) from the Chinese border. First thought, the Russians must feel pretty confident in the Chinese as allies, and the stability of the location of that border.
(Score: 2) by quietus on Thursday March 23 2023, @04:07PM
(Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Thursday March 23 2023, @06:45PM
China doesn't need to worry. Russia is historically well known for it's deep respect for the territorial integrity of its neighbors and its commitment to honoring any agreements it enters into.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 23 2023, @06:47PM
Send your crappy rockets from your own country, Putler.
Slava Ukraini!