Can you believe that of 30 spaceports only 6 of them has actually sent people to the space? I bet you think all of them are located in US? Well, the most of them, and some are also in China, but did you know that the oldest one is in a desert in Kazakhstan. It’s called the Baikonur Cosmodrome and is the largest as well as oldest one.
It was a part of the Soviet Union or more precise a part of the political party USSR, and of course they where in a constant competition with USA when it came to space issues, and secretly it was built in 1950s. But then Kazakhstan became independent and now the spaceport is leased by the Russian Space Forces and the Russian Federal Space Agency.
It was famous because it was there the first man went to space, Yuri Gagarin. It has had its faults too; In 1960
it exploded during a test and killed about a hundred people. Now they actually plan to make it function again in 2050, we will see what happens. If you’re into astronautics, you can take a look at this astronautics museum in Moscow, Russia.
The Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft is raised into vertical position at the launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. The TMA-01M is a new modified Soyuz vehicle that features upgraded avionics and a digital cockpit display. The crew of Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri, NASA Flight Engineer Scott Kelly and Russian Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 at 5:10 a.m. Kazakhstan time. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
The Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft is rolled out by train to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. The TMA-01M is a new modified Soyuz vehicle that features upgraded avionics and a digital cockpit display. The crew of Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri, NASA Flight Engineer Scott Kelly and Russian Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 at 5:10 a.m. Kazakhstan time. Photo Credit (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
The Soyuz TMA-01M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 carrying Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Scott J. Kelly and Russian Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka to the International Space Station. Their Soyuz TMA-01M rocket launched at 5:10 a.m Kazakhstan time. (Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi)
The sun rises behind the Soyuz launch pad shortly before the Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz rocket is seen shortly after arrival to the launch pad Sunday, June 13, 2010, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 24 on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 3:35 a.m. Kazakhstan time. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
The Soyuz TMA-18 rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, April 2, 2010 carrying Expedition 23 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Russia, Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko of Russia and NASA Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson of the U.S. to the International Space Station. (Photo Credit: NASA/bill Ingalls/Carla Cioffi)
The Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft is raised into position shortly after it was rolled out by train to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March, 31, 2010. The launch of the Soyuz spacecraft with Expedition 23 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Russia, Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko of Russia, and NASA Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson is scheduled for Friday, April 2, 2010 at 10:04 a.m. Kazakhstan time. Photo Credit (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Launch scaffolding is raised into place around the Soyuz rocket shortly after arrival to the launch pad Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz TMA-01M is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 25 to the International Space Station on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 at 5:10 a.m. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
The Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft is seen at sunrise prior to its launch at 10:04am, Friday, April 2, 2010 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The Soyuz spacecraft will carry Expedition 23 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Russia, Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko of Russia, and NASA Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-16 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 carrying Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams, Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev and Spaceflight Participant Guy Lalibert? to the International Space Station. (Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Via NASA HQ.
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