An Il-76MDK transport aircraft has completed its first cargo flight to the airport of the Russian Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Region, the Roscosmos press service reported today. The aircraft delivered space cargo, which was received by specialists from the Vostochny Space Center. The received cargo was later transported to the cosmodrome's technical complex using motor transport.
The construction of a modern runway at Vostochny was completed at the end of 2022, and its length is 3250 meters, which allows it to accommodate all types of aircraft. Plans include expanding the runway to 4400 meters. Currently, construction of facilities is underway at the airport, and the completion of all construction work is scheduled for 2029.
Il-76 MDK is a unique modification of the well-known transport aircraft, owned by Roscosmos.
Usually, this aircraft, created specifically for the needs of the space industry, is used as a laboratory aircraft for training future astronauts. Only three such aircraft exist in the world, and all of them belong to Roscosmos.
During training, the Il-76 MDK rises to a height of 6000 meters, then raises its nose by 45 degrees and reaches a height of 9000 meters in about 15 seconds. Passengers on board experience a G-force of 2G. Then the plane levels out, and a "fall" begins, creating weightlessness conditions in the cabin for about 25 seconds. In 2 hours of flight, the Il-76 MDK can create weightlessness 15 times, helping astronauts hone their skills.
But not only astronauts, for example, in 2019, the Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing conducted an Aston Martin pit stop in zero gravity on board this aircraft as part of an extreme experiment, demonstrating the unique capabilities of the Il-76 MDK.
Earlier, the first Angara-A5 launch vehicle was delivered to the Vostochny Cosmodrome, which, after flight design tests, will be sent into space.