Baikonur Turns 55

Baikonur Turns 55

The disappearance of the Soviet Union put Baikonur on Kazakh territory and in 1994 Russia and Kazakhstan signed a lease agreement under which Russia is to pay Kazakhstan 115 million dollars per year for the use of Baikonur. The initial agreement was for a period of 20 years, but in 2004, it was extended to 2050.

Baikonur, the world famous launch pad from where the first Soviet and world cosmonaut Yury Gagarin was sent to space has turned 55 years. It was here that the voice of the Soviet Union's Chief Designer, Sergei Korolev boomed out loud and clear "I am Zarya. Can you hear me?"

The decision to establish a testing range for inter-continental ballistic missile and the launching of earth satellites was taken on February 12th 1955. A month earlier, the first construction brigade had arrived in Tura-Tam, accompanied by a strong wind and a minus 35 degree Celsius freezing temperature.

The building of the cosmodrome was started under this harsh climatic condition and work was done at a furious pace. The range welcomed the first starting complex in May two years later. But June 2nd 1955, when the original structure of the pad's staff was endorsed, is the official birthday of the cosmodrome.