Russia's space centers (original) (raw)
SHORES OF THE UNIVERSE: Russia's space launch and rocket test sites
Baikonur, (aka Tyuratam, or NIIP-5 test range) opened Space Age in 1957, when a converted ballistic missile hauled the world's first satellite into orbit from then super-secret site on Syr Darya River in Kazakhstan:
Bershet, an ICBM deployment site; used for launches of UR-100 and UR-100K missiles (67);
Canso launch site, Nova Scotia, Canada
Derzhavinsk, an ICBM deployment site; used for launches of one R-36M on July 19, 1983 and three R-36M UTTKh missiles in 1986 and 1988 (67);
Dombarovsky, an operational ICBM base which hosted orbital launches;
Drovyanaya, an ICBM deployment site near the city of Chita; used for launches of R-16U and UR-100 missiles (67);
Kapustin Yar became the cradle of the Soviet rocketry in 1947, when Soviet engineers and their German colleagues launched the A-4 ballistic missiles from this dusty site on the banks of Volga River;
Kartalov, an ICBM deployment site; used for launches of R-36M and R-36M UTTKh ICBMs (67);
Kedrovy, an ICBM deployment site near the city of Krasnoyarsk; used for test launches of R-16U, UR-100 and UR-100K ICBMs (67);
Kostroma, an ICBM deployment region, used for launches of UR-100, MR UR-100, MR UR-100 UTTKh missiles (67);
Kourou, the European spaceport in French Guiana, also became the first site to accomodate Russian rockets outside of the former Soviet Union;
Kura, an ICBM warhead impact site on the Kamchatka Peninsula (43rd detached scientific and test station of the Ministry of Defense, ONIS);
Mykolaiv launch site (Ukraine)
Nenoksa, a navy test range for submarine-launched ballistic missiles could be used for space launches;
Nizhniy Tagil, an ICBM deployment site; used for test launches of R-16U ICBMs (67);
Novaya Zemlya, a nuclear test site and a missile impact site in the Arctic Ocean (67).
Olovyannaya, an ICBM deployment site; used for as many as 86 test launches (67);
Omsk, missile deployment region of the 290th detached rocket unit; conducted the launch of R-9A ICBM in July 1965 (67).
Pan'kovo, The Novaya Zemlya archipelago; Test launch site for the Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile.
Plesetsk, NIIP-1 test range, the former super-secret ICBM site have grown into the world's busiest spaceport in the 1970s and 1980s;
Sary-Shagan, antimissile defense and laser weapons test site;
Sea Launch, a sea-based launch site;
Tatishevo, an ICBM deployment site; used for launches of UR-100N and UR-100N UTTKh missiles (67);
Teikovo, an ICBM deployment area near the city of Ivanovo, used for launches of R-16U, UR-100 and UR-100K missiles (67);
Tyumen, a missile deployment region of the 93rd rocket brigade; conducted two launches on June 27, 1967 and in 1968 (67);
Uzhur, an ICBM deployment site; used for launches of R-36, R-36M, R-36M UTTKh ICBMs (67);
Vostochny Cosmodrome -- a new Russian launch site to replace Baikonur;
2013: Vostochny turns from clay to stone
2014: Construction in Vostochny to enter critical phase
2015: Moment of truth for Vostochny
Spacecraft processing building, MIK KA, in Vostochny
Launch vehicle processing building, MIK RN, in Vostochny
Storage and vacuum testing facility in Vostochny (INSIDER CONTENT)
Soyuz launch complex in Vostochny
Angara launch complex in Vostochny
Facility 1: Launch pad (INSIDER CONTENT)
Facility 2: Fire station (INSIDER CONTENT)
Facility 3: Firing room (INSIDER CONTENT)
Angara pad in Vostochny in 2023 (INSIDER CONTENT)
NEW, July 10: Launch facility for Amur-SPG (INSIDER CONTENT)
Launch facility for super-heavy rocket (INSIDER CONTENT)
Yurya, an ICBM deployment site; used for launches of R-16U missiles (67);