Cosmodrom Baikonur

Published: 21.3.2011

This is a place from where you can fly to the stars…

In 1955, the Government of Soviet Union accepted a resolution regarding construction of a complex for tests of inter-continental balistic missils. Such fact meant for Russia the beginning of penetration into cosmos (universe) and creation of Russian rocket nuclear shield. So, the date of 2nd June is a day of starting-point of Cosmodrom Baikonur.

Baikonur is situated in the territory of Kasakhstan, not far from the community Tyura-Tam, on a surface of 6717 square kilometres. From strategic reasons, vast unpeopled area was chosen as ideal place in Kasakhstan desert.

The construction was started under severe secrecy, under leading of Army generals. The buidings of future cosmodrom-complex were built by army builders. In 1957, the cosmodrom was terminated. Shortly afterthat, on 15th May, the first start of inter-continental rocket R-7 was finished. (this rocket was created for transport of hydrogen bomb). Later, in October, the same rocket brought out into earth orbit the first artificial planet of the Earth - Sputnik. And finally, on 12th April 1961, the first start of cosmical craft „Wostok“, with the first cosmonaut of the history on board - Yuri Gagarin - was launched.

Nevertheless, for disorientation of possible enemy, a camuflage construction was built (so called „false cosmodrom“) placed in Karaganda area, close to the community of Baikonur. And, after start of cosmical craft „Wostok-1“ with Yuri Gagarin on board, this name was used for real cosmodrom.

After collapse of the Soviet Union, the complex was shared to Kasakhstan. Anyway, later, the area was leased to Russia, for yearly amount of USD 115 millions.

Within 55 years of cosmodrom existence, there were proved there various cosmical rockets systems with range rockets, such as: „Wostok“, „Woskhod“, „Molnya“, „Soyuz“, „Cyclone“, „Proton“, „Intercosmos“, „Zenit“, „Energia“ „Rokot“ and „Dniepr“.

From these starting ramps, there were effected more than 1200 starts of cosmical rockets as well as approx. 2000 starts of inter-continental balistic rockets. Approx. 1500 cosmical equipments of military, scientific or economical purposes were launched into various orbital lines, including artificial planets for business purposes.

Apart of this, piloted cosmical crafts started from Baikonur, such as: „Wostok“, „Woskhod“, „Soyuz“, including well-known orbital stations „Salyut“, „Mir“, systems „Energia“ – „Buran“, interplanetar cosmical outfits or artificial planets.

All technical complex of Cosmodrom Baikonur is placed in distance of 40 kilometres from the town of Leninsk (Kasakhstan), and it is destinated for preparation orbital crafts, range rockets as well as rocket cosmical system as a complex, into state of preparation for starting complex, situated in 5 kilometres distance from technical complex and 16 kilometres from entry complex of orbital ship (craft).

The Infrastructure

The Baikonur has really imposant infrastructure available, as follows:

- nine types of starting complexes, including fifteen filing ramps, ready for staring of ranging rockets

- four filing ramps for tests of inter-continental balistic rockets

- eleven testing objects, where there are placed thirty-four technical complexes, ready for preparation of rockets-rangers and cosmical systems before starts, including three supply neutralization stations for supply of cosmical outfits

- a centre with modern information and computation centre, destined for checking (control) as well as leading of flights or working of tele-metric information

- oxygen and nitrogen work, at capacity of even three hundred tonnes of cryogennic products daily