Vostochny Cosmodrome near Russia's border with China, which Putin says is still on track to see its first rocket launch as soon as 2015 and its first manned launch in 2018.

ENGADGET

There will also be an additional 10 "safety and acceptance" firings that will explore some of the rocket's limits, to certify the system for use in a manned vehicle.

BBC: Science & Environment

Russia will need a new rocket to get to Mars, though, and a new launch site to operate manned flights as early as in 2018.

FORBES: Will Russia Win the Next Space Race?

Following the retirement of the American space shuttle in July, the Soyuz rocket is the only means of getting astronauts and cosmonauts to the ISS. August's failure saw manned flights stand down even longer than the six weeks for unmanned Soyuz rockets, and the hiatus put a severe strain on the operation of the space station.

BBC: Another Soyuz rocket launch fails