BAIKONUR COSMODROME
The Baikonur site covers an area of almost 7,000 km2, of which only part can be visited. Numerous disused launch pads and silos bear witness to the progress made by the Soviets in the field of space launchers, many of which were derived from ballistic missiles. Ever since Yuri Gagarin launched from Baikonur to become the first man in space, activity at the cosmodrome has never stopped, under the dynamic leadership of Sergei Korolev (1906-1966), the USSR's "Mr Space". Even today, some fifteen launches take place every year, either for series of tests or for putting satellites into orbit.
With permission, tourists can visit the Museum of Space History, which focuses on the great Russian-American rivalry of the 1960s and 1970s (as seen through Moscow's eyes), as well as the house occupied by Yuri Gagarin before he became the first man in space.
Please note. A visit to the Baikonur site is only possible after you have taken all the necessary steps in Russia and Kazakhstan to obtain the necessary authorizations and a special permit to access the site. Important: since the invasion of Ukraine, the chances of a European visiting the cosmodrome have become almost nil. Only certain travel agencies are accredited to carry out the formalities, and you'll be turned away if you try to stay in the vicinity of the cosmodrome without authorization.
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