Baikonur Cosmodrome

Baikonur Cosmodrome – Gateway to space.

The Cosmodrome is a space launch facility located in Kazakhstan. It is the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility. The name “Baikonur” is derived from the nearby town of the same name, which was a secret city during the Soviet era.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome was established by the Soviet Union in 1955 as a base for its space programme. It played a crucial role in the early days of space exploration, serving as the launch site for the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and the first manned space flight, Yuri Gagarin’s Vostok 1 mission in 1961.

Throughout the Cold War, Baikonur was the main launch site for the Soviet space programme and remains an important facility for the Russian space programme. It has been used to launch a variety of spacecraft, including manned missions to the International Space Station (ISS), cargo missions and unmanned space probes.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome has played a significant role in the history of space exploration and continues to be an important centre for space activities. It is a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the engineers and scientists who have worked there over the years.

1991-1993 – the period of crisis for the cosmodrome after the collapse of the USSR. The number of space launches decreased drastically. The population of the city fell by almost half, and a number of officers and industrial workers decided to leave the cosmodrome with their families for their homeland (Russia, Ukraine, etc.) in search of a better life in the current environment of chaos and uncertainty.

At a meeting between V. Putin and N. Nazarbayev on 9-10 January 2004 in Astana, an agreement was signed on the development of cooperation in the effective use of the Baikonur complex, the lease was extended until 2050 at the same rent of $115 million per year.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in the steppes of Kazakhstan, some 200 kilometres north-east of the Aral Sea. At a meeting between V. Putin and N. Nazarbayev on 9-10 January 2004 in Astana, an agreement was signed on the development of cooperation in the effective use of the Baikonur complex; the lease was extended until 2050 at the same rent of $115 million per year.

The tour of Baikonur includes learning about the history of the cosmodrome, visiting spacecraft ” Буран “, ” Союз “, ” Восток “, satellites, rocket engines, cosmodrome equipment, huge launch complexes.

The ruins of the biggest rocket and space disaster – Площадки-41.

The Прогресс ship will deliver the necessary cargo, water, food and scientific equipment to the station. Outwardly, the Прогресс is very similar to the Союз, but it is not intended to return. The tour includes visits to local museums and the Wall of Honored Cosmonauts.

Visit the Энергия-Буран control bunker and much more!

This is a great expedition into the evolution of man and the cosmos. We offer you the best planned Baikonur tour that includes many other attractions in this region. Please do not hesitate to contact us to book your perfect expedition.