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Baikonur Cosmodrome

TLDR: Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport in Kazakhstan that is leased to Russia. It is the world's first spaceport used for orbital and human launches. All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur.

Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur and is operated by Russia. It was built in 1955 and is the largest operational space launch facility in the world. The spaceport is situated in the Kazakh Steppe, about 90 meters above sea level. It is close to the Aral Sea and the Syr Darya river.

The cosmodrome has a rich history and has been the launch site for many historic space missions. It was the launching point for the first man-made satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. Baikonur has also hosted launches for cosmonauts from other countries under the Interkosmos program.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has continued to operate the spaceport under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In 2005, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement that extended Russia's lease of the spaceport until 2050. Baikonur is jointly managed by Roscosmos and the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The spaceport is equipped with facilities for launching both crewed and uncrewed spacecraft. It has supported several generations of Russian spacecraft, including Soyuz, Proton, Tsyklon, Dnepr, Zenit, and Buran. Baikonur is also the primary launch site for Russian missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

In recent years, Russia has been constructing the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast as a way to reduce its dependency on Baikonur. However, Baikonur remains a busy spaceport, with numerous commercial, military, and scientific missions being launched annually.

Overall, Baikonur Cosmodrome is a historic and important spaceport that has played a significant role in the exploration of space. It continues to be a key launch site for Russian space missions and is a symbol of international cooperation in space exploration.