Baikonur Cosmodrome

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The Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakh: Байқоңыр ғарыш айлағы, Bayqoñır ğarış aylağı; Russian: Космодром Байконур, Kosmodrom Baykonur), also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppes of Kazakhstan, about 200 kilometers (124 mi) east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level. The facility derives its name from a wider area known as Baikonur and is also traditionally linked with the town of Jezkazgan. It is leased by the Kazakh government to Russia (currently until 2050) and is managed jointly by the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Russian Space Forces. The shape of the area leased is an ellipse, measuring 90 kilometres east-west by 85 kilometres north-south, with the cosmodrome at the centre. It was originally built by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s as the base of operations for its ambitious space program, but fell into decline in the years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.

Vostok 1, the first manned spacecraft in human history, was launched from one of Baikonur's launch pads, which is presently known as Gagarin's Start.

For more information about Baikonur Cosmodrome, read the full article at Wikipedia.
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News tagged with baikonur cosmodrome

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Expedition 21 to Launch to Station Wednesday Morning

Light-Duty Day for ISS Crew, Expedition 21 to Launch Wednesday Morning

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Sep 29, 2009 | 3.7 / 5 (3) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- The Expedition 20 crew members had a light-duty work day and performed a variety of maintenance and science-related tasks Monday as they prepare for a busy week aboard the International Space ...

Ground segment declared ready for CryoSat-2 launch

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Aug 07, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- An Earth observation mission does not just involve the building of a satellite, it also includes the all-important infrastructure to control the satellite and handle the data - the ground ...

Delayed spacewalk ends successfully

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Jun 05, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

(AP) -- Two international space station crew members wrapped up a successful spacewalk Friday, the first since the size of the station's crew expanded from three to six last month.

Spacewalk begins after CO2 in spacesuits delay

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Jun 05, 2009 | 3 / 5 (2) | 2

(AP) -- Two international space station crew members began a spacewalk Friday, despite initial concerns about high carbon dioxide levels in their redesigned Russian space suits.

The astronauts will hurtle into low Earth orbit and then make a gradual ascent to the station

Astronauts blast off to double space station crew

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

May 27, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0

Three astronauts, from Canada, Belgium and Russia, blasted off Wednesday for the International Space Station in a landmark mission that will double its crew to six for the first time.

L-R: Astronauts Robert Thirsk, Roman Romanenko and Frank De Winne

New dinner table top priority as ISS expands

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

May 07, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0

Astronauts set to blast off for the International Space Station said Thursday that constructing a new dinner table would be a top priority as its permanent crew expands to six.

Expedition 19 Crew Docks with Space Station

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Mar 30, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Michael Barratt of the 19th International Space Station crew docked their Soyuz TMA-14 to the International Space Station at 9:05 a.m. EDT Saturday.

The end of the line for space tourism?

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Mar 28, 2009 | 5 / 5 (1) | 1

A US software mogul who made history this week as the first person to travel to space twice as a tourist could also be the last paying passenger to head into space for several years.