Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Baikonur Cosmodrome spans 6,717 square kilometers of desert terrain and contains multiple launch pads for different types of space vehicles and rockets.

The Soviet Union established this launch facility in 1955, and it became the starting point for Sputnik 1 and Yuri Gagarin's first human spaceflight in 1961.

The Baikonur Museum displays space artifacts, including items from numerous missions, photographs of launches, and equipment used throughout the facility's operational history.

Visitors require special permits from both Russian and Kazakh authorities to access the cosmodrome, which Russia leases from Kazakhstan until 2050 for annual payments.

The facility maintains a dedicated railway system connecting assembly buildings to launch pads, allowing rockets to be transported horizontally before being raised into position.

Location: Kyzylorda Region

Inception: 1955

Official opening: 1955

Elevation above the sea: 90 m

GPS coordinates: 45.96480,63.30510

Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:05