11 Facts About Baikonur Cosmodrome

1.

Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to Russia.

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2.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world's first spaceport for orbital and human launches and the largest operational space launch facility.

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3.

Baikonur Cosmodrome was established on 2 June 1955 by the former Soviet Ministry of Defence.

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4.

Under the current Russian management, Baikonur Cosmodrome remains a busy spaceport, with numerous commercial, military and scientific missions being launched annually.

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5.

Baikonur Cosmodrome is the site from which Venera 9 and Mars 3 were launched.

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6.

Baikonur Cosmodrome has been a major part of Russia's contribution to the International Space Station, as it is the only spaceport from which Russian missions to the ISS are launched.

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7.

Baikonur Cosmodrome is fully equipped with facilities for launching both crewed and uncrewed spacecraft.

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8.

Once part of the Soviet Railroad Troops, the Baikonur Cosmodrome Railway is served by a dedicated civilian state company.

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9.

Baikonur Cosmodrome has two on-site multi-purpose airports, serving both the personnel transportation needs and the logistics of space launches .

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10.

Baikonur Cosmodrome has a small museum, next to two small cottages, once residences of the rocket engineer Sergei Korolev and the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin.

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11.

Baikonur Cosmodrome's museum holds many objects related to Gagarin, including the ground control panel from his flight, his uniforms, and soil from his landing site, preserved in a silver container.

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