Space platforms. Cosmodromes - composition and types. The most controversially located cosmodrome

On March 4, 1997, the first space launch took place from the new Russian Svobodny cosmodrome. It became the twentieth cosmodrome in the world operating at that time. Now, on the site of this launch site, the Vostochny cosmodrome is being built, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2018. Thus, Russia will already have 5 spaceports - more than China, but less than the United States. Today we will tell you about the world's largest space sites.

Baikonur (Russia, Kazakhstan)

The oldest and largest to this day is "Baikonur", opened in the steppes of Kazakhstan in 1957. Its area is 6717 sq. Km. In the best - 60s - it carried out up to 40 launches per year. And there were 11 launch complexes. Over the entire period of the cosmodrome's existence, more than 1,300 launches were made from it.

According to this parameter, Baikonur is still in the lead in the world. Every year, an average of two dozen rockets are launched into space here. Legally, the cosmodrome with all its infrastructure and vast territory belongs to Kazakhstan. And Russia leases it for $ 115 million a year. The lease is due to end in 2050.

However, even earlier, most of the Russian launches should be transferred to the Vostochny cosmodrome currently under construction in the Amur Region.

It has existed in Florida since 1949. Initially, military aircraft were tested at the base, and later launches of ballistic missiles. It has been used as a launch site since 1957. Without stopping military tests, in 1957, part of the launch sites were made available to NASA.

The first American satellites were launched here, the first American astronauts - Alan Shepard and Virgil Grissom (suborbital flights on a ballistic trajectory) and John Glenn (orbital flight) - flew from here. After that, the program of manned flights moved to the newly rebuilt Space Center, which was named after Kennedy in 1963 after the death of the president.

From that moment on, the base began to be used to launch unmanned spacecraft, which delivered the necessary cargo to astronauts into orbit, and also sent automatic research stations to other planets and beyond the solar system.

Also, satellites, both civil and military, have been launched and are being launched from Cape Canaverel. Due to the variety of tasks solved on the basis, 28 launch sites were built here. There are currently 4 operational ones. Two more are being maintained pending production of the modern Boeing X-37 shuttles, which should “retire” the Delta, Atlas and Titan missiles.

It was created in Florida in 1962. Area - 557 sq. Km. The number of employees is 14 thousand people. The complex is completely owned by NASA. It is from here that all manned spacecraft started, starting with the flight in May 1962 of the fourth astronaut Scott Carpenter. Here the Apollo program was implemented, culminating in a landing on the moon. All American reusable ships - shuttles - flew from here and returned here.

Now all the launch pads are on standby for new technology. The last launch took place in 2011. However, the Center continues to work hard on both the ISS flight control and the development of new space programs.

Located in Guiana, an overseas department of France located in the northeast of South America. The area is about 1200 sq. Km. The Kourou Cosmodrome was opened by the French Space Agency in 1968. Due to a small distance from the equator, spacecraft can be launched from here with significant fuel economy, since the rocket is "pushed" by the large linear speed of the Earth's rotation near the zero parallel.

In 1975, the French invited the European Space Agency (ESA) to use the Kura for their programs. As a result, France is now allocating 1/3 of the necessary funds for the maintenance and development of the cosmodrome, the rest lies with the ESA. At the same time, ESA owns three of the four launchers.

From here, the European nodes of the ISS and satellites go into space. The dominant missile here is the Toulouse-based Ariane Euro-missile missile. More than 60 launches were made in total. At the same time, our Soyuz with commercial satellites launched from the cosmodrome five times.

The PRC owns four cosmodromes. Two of them solve only military problems, testing ballistic missiles, launching spy satellites, testing technology for intercepting foreign space objects. Two have a dual purpose, ensuring not only the implementation of militaristic programs, but also the peaceful exploration of outer space.

The largest and oldest of them is the Jiuquan Cosmodrome. It has been operating since 1958. Occupies an area of ​​2800 sq. Km.

At first, Soviet specialists taught the Chinese "brothers for ever" the intricacies of the military space "craft" there. In 1960, the first short-range missile, a Soviet one, was launched from here. Soon, a Chinese-made rocket was successfully launched, in the creation of which Soviet specialists also participated. After the rupture of friendly relations between the countries, the activities of the cosmodrome stalled.

Only in 1970, the first Chinese satellite was successfully launched from the cosmodrome. The first ICBM was launched 10 years later. And at the end of the century, the first descent spacecraft without a pilot went into space. In 2003, the first taikonaut was in orbit.

Now 4 out of 7 launch sites operate at the cosmodrome. 2 of them are reserved exclusively for the needs of the Ministry of Defense. Every year, 5-6 rockets are launched from the Jiuquan cosmodrome.

Founded in 1969. Operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Located on the southeast coast of Tanegashima Island, in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture.

The first primitive satellite was launched into orbit in 1970. Since then, Japan, with a strong technological base in the field of electronics, has made great strides in creating both efficient orbiting satellites and heliocentric research stations.

At the cosmodrome, two launch pads are set aside for launches of suborbital geophysical vehicles, two serve heavy rockets H-IIA and H-IIB. It is these rockets that deliver scientific equipment and necessary equipment to the ISS. Up to 5 launches are carried out annually.

This unique floating spaceport based on an ocean platform was commissioned in 1999. Due to the fact that the platform is based on the zero parallel, launches from it are energetically most advantageous due to the use of the maximum linear velocity of the Earth at the equator. Odyssey's activities are controlled by a consortium that includes Boeing, RSC Energia, the Ukrainian Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, the Ukrainian PO Yuzhmash, which produces Zenit missiles, and the Norwegian shipbuilding company Aker Kværner.

The Odyssey consists of two sea vessels - a platform with a launcher and a vessel that plays the role of a mission control center.

The launch site was formerly a Japanese oil platform that has been renovated and refurbished. Its dimensions: length 133 m, width 67 m, height 60 m, displacement 46 thousand tons.

The Zenith rockets used to launch commercial satellites are middle class. They are capable of launching more than 6 tons of payload into orbit.

During the existence of the floating cosmodrome, about 40 launches were made on it.

And all the rest

In addition to the above-mentioned cosmodromes, there are 17 more. All of them are considered active.

Some of them, having survived the "former glory", greatly reduced their activity, or even completely frozen. Some serve only the military space sector. There are those who are developing intensively and, very likely, will become "trendsetters of space fashion" over time.

Here is a list of countries that have spaceports and their number, including those listed in this article

Russia - 4;

China - 4;

Japan - 2;

Brazil - 1;

Israel - 1;

India - 1;

Republic of Korea - 1;

Modern cosmodromes in Russia are objects that play a crucial role in science, economics, socio-political, cultural communications at various levels. There are both operating and under construction launch sites in the Russian Federation. Where are the cosmodromes in Russia? What kind of objects are they currently represented?

What cosmodromes operate in the Russian Federation?

Baikonur, Plesetsk, Kapustin Yar, Yasny, Svobodny and Vostochny under construction are modern cosmodromes in Russia. The list of relevant objects, of course, can be adjusted - depending on how the infrastructure involved in the implementation of the Russian space program will be distributed. It is not excluded that, due to the large area of ​​certain cosmodromes, as well as the complexity of the tasks solved at them, new launch sites will be opened, the current ones will be closed and transferred to another place. But at the moment, the above-mentioned cosmodromes in Russia, in general, can be considered as a fairly well-established system of objects for the corresponding purpose. Let us now consider the specifics of each of them in more detail.

"Baikonur" - the main cosmodrome in the space programs of the Russian Federation

Baikonur is a cosmodrome that does not belong to Russia, but to Kazakhstan, but the Russian Federation is practically the only user of it. Its main operators are RSC Energia, TsSKB Progress, GKNPTs im. MV Khrunicheva, Space Center "Yuzhny". Baikonur was built in 1955. This object was leased by the government of the Russian Federation from the Republic of Kazakhstan for 50 years. The cost of using the cosmodrome is about 5 billion rubles a year - 3.5 billion is actually rent, 1.5 billion is the funds allocated by the Russian Federation to maintain the facility's infrastructure.

Baikonur, despite its legal affiliation to Kazakhstan, is traditionally regarded as a cosmodrome of Russia. It is known for the fact that the Earth, the first manned spacecraft, various scientific satellites were launched from it. Now Baikonur is the largest of all objects of the corresponding type that are used in the Russian space industry. Its total area is about 6717 sq. km. In the past few years, this Russian cosmodrome has been the world leader in terms of the number of launches.

Infrastructure of the Baikonur cosmodrome

The infrastructure of "Baikonur" is represented, in particular, by the following objects:

9 launch complexes of various categories;

15 launchers designed to launch rockets that launch satellites and ships into space;

4 launchers used for ballistic missile testing;

11 cases designed for installation and testing of equipment for various purposes;

34 complexes, adapted for the implementation of prelaunch preparation of rockets and spacecraft launched by them into space for various purposes;

3 stations where carrier rockets and other spacecraft are refueled with various types of fuel;

Measuring complex;

Information and Computing Center, in which control, as well as control of spacecraft flights and processing of various types of data is carried out;

Oxygen-nitrogen production complex, capable of producing about 300 tons of various types of cryogenic products during the day;

CHPP with a capacity of 60 MW;

Power train with a capacity of 72 MW, operating on gas turbines;

In the amount of 600 objects;

In the amount of 92 units;

Aerodromes - "Extreme" and "Yubileiny";

Local railway infrastructure with a total length of about 470 km;

Automotive infrastructure with a length of about 1281 km;

Power lines at 6610 km, communications at 2784 km.

Having considered the main features of the largest cosmodrome involved in the Russian space program, we will study the specifics of other objects of the same type that operate in Russia.

"Kapustin Yar"

Many researchers tend to regard Kapustin Yar as a military training ground. But in many ways it can also be considered a cosmodrome, primarily due to the fact that test launches of ballistic missiles - with warheads that are launched into open space - are carried out from it. "Kapustin Yar" was built in 1946.

This cosmodrome of Russia is located mainly in but some of its territories are part of the Atyrau and West Kazakhstan regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its total area is about 650 sq. km. This cosmodrome has its own administrative center - the city of Znamensk. There is a military airfield not far from it.

"Clear"

The Yasny cosmodrome is most often viewed by experts as a launching base - but for rockets, again, intended for launching into outer space. It has been actively used since 2006. This relatively new cosmodrome is located in Russia, in the Yasnensky region, which is located in the Orenburg region.

The main operator of the facility is the Kosmotras international corporation. The cosmodrome infrastructure is used mainly for launching various satellites into low-earth orbit. At the same time, the Dnepr rocket of Russian-Ukrainian production is most often used to solve the corresponding problems.

"Plesetsk"

The northernmost cosmodrome in Russia is Plesetsk. It is located about 180 km from Arkhangelsk - south of the city. The area of ​​the object is about 176.2 hectares. Plesetsk began operating as a cosmodrome in 1966. It can be used to launch missiles belonging to the R-7 family and others that belong to similar classes.

The northernmost cosmodrome in Russia, as noted by some analysts, has a record in terms of the total number of rockets launched from it into space.

"Free"

The Svobodny cosmodrome is located in the Amur Region. It has been in operation since 1996. This Russian cosmodrome has an area of ​​410 sq. km, and has an infrastructure for launching light and medium-class missiles. An interesting fact is that the construction of Svobodny was initiated due to the fact that after the collapse of the USSR, the main Soviet cosmodrome Baikonur was outside the Russian Federation, and the leaders of the Russian space program decided that the state needed its own facility for the corresponding purpose. In practice, at that time, the easternmost cosmodrome of Russia, after the start of operation, was activated, in particular, for the purpose of test launches of ballistic missiles, such as the Topol. Now it is practically not actively used, this is largely due to the fact that a new facility is being built in the Far East - the Vostochny cosmodrome. Consider, in turn, the basic information about him.

"Oriental"

This is the newest and most eastern cosmodrome in Russia. It began construction in 2010. It will be located, by the way, not far from Svobodny, which is supposed to be disbanded in connection with the installation of the main infrastructure already at Vostochny and the subsequent optimization of logistics for the specifics of the new facility.

It is estimated that the easternmost Russian cosmodrome under construction will occupy an area of ​​about 1035 sq. km. Its creation is intended to solve the following major tasks: the acquisition by Russia of its own cosmodrome, adapted to launch any type of missile, the formation of additional impulses for the intensive development of the Far Eastern territories of the Russian Federation. This region is given special attention in state socio-economic programs, and the construction of the corresponding facility is considered here as one of the most significant factors in the successful implementation of these initiatives.

Vostochny is a cosmodrome of Russia, which has a number of advantages, in particular, over Baikonur. So, for example, the flight routes of missiles that will be launched from here are located outside densely populated and also foreign countries - those are laid over neutral waters. In addition, a significant factor is where the cosmodrome is located in Russia - namely, in close proximity to the developed transport infrastructure. This makes the operation of Vostochny especially profitable. At the same time, some experts also highlight a number of shortcomings in the design of the corresponding object of the Russian space program. First of all, it is noted that Vostochny is located 6 degrees north of Baikonur - therefore, the total payload mass that is launched into space at the Russian cosmodrome will be slightly lower.

When will launches from Vostochny begin?

When will Russia's easternmost cosmodrome be opened and operational?

Initially, it was assumed that the first from the corresponding facility will be completed at the end of 2015. But at the moment it has been postponed to 2016. As for the launches of a manned spacecraft from Vostochny, the first one should take place in 2016. The personnel of the new Russian cosmodrome will live in the city of Uglegorsk, which is located in the Amur Region - in the immediate vicinity of the facility under construction. In the same city, the administrative bodies of "Vostochny" will be located. By the way, some of the cosmodrome infrastructure facilities may be built outside the Amur Region. It is assumed that from Vostochny it will be possible to launch missiles of almost any type - light, medium and heavy - such as, for example, the Angara, which was successfully tested in the Russian Federation in 2014.

Summary

Thus, the modern cosmodromes in Russia are represented by 5 operating facilities - so far we can count “Svobodny” as such, since there is still an infrastructure on it, and one is under construction. They are located in various parts of the Russian Federation - in the south of the European part of the country, in the north, in the Far East. The largest cosmodrome involved in the Russian space program is located in Kazakhstan. Soon it will share its functions, which are expressed in the implementation of launches of all types of rockets in demand, with the Vostochny cosmodrome, which is being built in the Amur Region.

Baikonur. The launching position of the Soyuz missiles. KOSMODROM (from space and Greek dromos run, place to run), a complex of structures, equipment and land plots intended for the assembly, preparation and launch of spacecraft. In 1946 there was ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

COSMODROM- (from space and Greek dromos running, place for running), a complex of structures, equipment and land plots intended for the assembly, preparation and launch of spacecraft. In 1946 the first in the USSR Kapustin Yar cosmodrome was founded, in 1955 ... ... Modern encyclopedia

cosmodrome- Star Harbor, Utinoura, Space Harbor, Plesetsk, Wallops, Chanchengzie, Tanegashima, Baikonur Dictionary of Russian synonyms. cosmodrome n., number of synonyms: 9 baikonur (2) ... Synonym dictionary

COSMODROM- (from space and the Greek dromos jogging, a place to run), a complex of structures and technical means for the assembly, preparation and launch of spacecraft. It includes a technical position, a launch complex and service facilities (measuring points ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

COSMODROM- KOSMODROM, ah, husband. A complex of structures and technical means for launching spacecraft, artificial earth satellites and other spacecraft. | adj. cosmodrome, oh, oh. Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 ... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

COSMODROM- a complex of structures, technical means and alienated (for security purposes) land zones, designed for assembly, preparation for launch and launch of spacecraft. K. includes a technical position, a launch complex ... ... Big Polytechnic Encyclopedia

cosmodrome- a specially prepared area with facilities and equipment located on it for assembling, testing and launching carrier rockets with spacecraft. The modern cosmodrome includes assembly test, launch and ... ... Encyclopedia of technology

Cosmodrome- (from Cosmos and the Greek drómos run, a place for running) a complex of structures, equipment and land plots intended for receiving, assembling, preparing for launching and launching space rockets. Some K. include land plots for the fall ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

cosmodrome- a; m. [from the Greek. kosmos universe and dromos a place to run; run] A complex of structures and technical means designed for the assembly, preparation and launch of spacecraft. * * * cosmodrome (from space and Greek drómos run, place ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• The Plesetsk cosmodrome. Years and Fates, V. Bukrin, N. Prokopenko. This book, dedicated to the fortieth anniversary of the creation of the first objects of the future Plesetsk cosmodrome, was written by V. Bukrin and N. Prokopenko. It is about the main asset of the cosmodrome - its people, ... Buy for 1300 rubles
• Cosmodrome. Astronauts. Space, A. Romanov. "Sunrise", "Union". In the vastness of space, the devices "Zond", "Electron", "Meteor", "Proton", a whole series of Earth satellites "Cosmos", "Lightning" have visited. Many mysteries are revealed to the Universe, and it begins ...

The cosmodrome is the territory on which there are structures designed for launching spacecraft into space. These objects occupy a considerable area and they are trying to be located as far as possible from dwellings.

But the most important requirement for spaceports is proximity to the equator. Indeed, thanks to this arrangement, the carrier can use the energy of the Earth's rotation, which helps to save fuel.

Only there are not so many developed states on the equator, which was the reason for the appearance of mobile and sea-based cosmodromes. In total, there are about thirty cosmodromes in the world, but few of them are actively used. The largest cosmodromes of mankind, operating today, will be discussed.

Baikonur, Kazakhstan. This cosmodrome is the largest and most actively used in the world. Despite the fact that the main history of Russian cosmonautics is associated with it, it is located in Kazakhstan. The cosmodrome was officially founded on June 2, 1955. Then the commission was looking for a sparsely populated region, whose land is not used in agriculture. The Soviet authorities decided to create a test site for missiles that could deliver nuclear charges over long distances. The first rocket, the R-7, was launched from Baikonur on May 15, 1957. It was she who from this cosmodrome was able to launch the first artificial satellite into the planet's orbit on October 4, 1957, marking the beginning of the space era. One of the largest accidents in the history of space launches is also associated with Baikonur - during the test of the R-16 rocket, a fire occurred that killed 76 people. And on April 12, 1961, the first man, Yuri Gagarin, went into space from Baikonur. Since then, more than 1,500 spacecraft launches have been carried out from the cosmodrome, and ballistic missiles have also been tested. In 1994, the facility, together with the adjacent city, was leased to Russia. Kazakhstan will receive $ 115 million annually until 2050. Rocket launches at Baikonur were carried out from 16 different launchers.

Cape Canaveral, USA. This cape was named after Kennedy in 1964-1973. This place is located on the Atlantic coast of Florida. The headland is home to a US Air Force facility that is essentially operated by NASA. Interestingly, the Kennedy Space Center is located on the neighboring island, from which spacecraft are also launched. As a result, Cape Canaveral combines two launch complexes at once. This object received a unique telephone code 321, in honor of its contribution to space exploration. After all, these numbers mark the countdown. Since 1949, the military base has been used to test missiles, allowing them to be launched across the Atlantic. From here, since 1956, the Americans began to carry out early suborbital missile launches. And the launch of an artificial satellite after the USSR in December 1957 failed. In 1958, NASA was founded, for which launches were carried out from Cape Canaveral. Many rocket sites have also been created here. On September 13, 1961, the Americans were able to carry out the first orbital flight from this cosmodrome, and in February 1962, the first US citizen also ascended into space. In 2012, 10 spacecraft were launched from Cape Canaveral.

Kuru, French Guiana. This cosmodrome is located in the northeast of South America, on the Atlantic coast. In 1964, the French government decided to join the space program and chose Kourou out of 14 competitors. Construction began in 1965, and the first rocket launch from here took place on April 9, 1968. In 1975, with the formation of the European Space Agency, it was decided to make Kuru the main launch site for space programs. Europe has modernized the cosmodrome for its Arian program. And in 2003, Russia also signed an agreement with the French, which made it possible to launch Russian missiles from the Kuru. In October 2011, the first Soyuz took off from the French cosmodrome. The advantage of Kuru is that it is only 500 kilometers from the equator, which saves fuel. The location of the cosmodrome is such that it allows you to carry out all possible missions. The high level of efficiency, reliability and safety attracts clients from other countries to Kuru. And from here in 2012, 10 rocket launches were carried out.

Xichang, China. In the 1970s, China also joined the space race. According to the plans of Mao Zedong, an astronaut from this country was supposed to appear in orbit already in 1973. Especially for the implementation of this project in the province of Sichuan, near the city of Sichang, the construction of a cosmodrome has begun. It was built in the strictest secrecy, and the site was chosen not only because of its proximity to the equator, but also as far away from the border with the Soviet Union as possible. But during the Cultural Revolution, leading scholars were repressed and funding was curtailed. The project was closed and relaunched only in 1984. Then the first launches took place here, and in 1988 foreign specialists were admitted to Sichan. Since 1990, the cosmodrome has been offering its services to other countries; commercial launches are carried out using the national launch vehicle CZ-3. The cosmodrome has two launch complexes at a distance of a kilometer from each other. The cosmodrome can theoretically produce about 10-12 launches every year. Interestingly, during launches, the population of nearby settlements is evacuated. And in the event of non-standard situations, the launch vehicle is undermined so that its debris would fall in sparsely populated areas.

Taiyuan, China. The cosmodrome began launching rockets back in 1966, but then it was about military ballistic carriers. Only in 1988 the first launch of the spacecraft took place here. The cosmodrome was previously called Wuzhai and is located much north of Xichang, near the city of Taiyuan. It was built 2500 years ago and was the birthplace of many Chinese emperors. This is how the past merged with the future, which tourists are certainly told about. The area of ​​the cosmodrome is 375 square kilometers, and its launch sites are at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. At the facility, in addition to the missile launch facilities themselves, there is also a maintenance tower and two storage facilities for liquid fuel. The main satellite launches from here are meteorological, reconnaissance and remote sensing. In 2012, 5 spacecraft launches were carried out from here.

Jiuquan, China. This is the first cosmodrome for China and until 1984 it was the only one. Jiuquan is also called the Chinese Baikonur, also because of its size - 2800 square kilometers. Originally, the Shuanchenzi test site was built in the Gobi Desert. And the first launch into space from here was carried out in 1970 - the Chinese satellite "Dongfanhong-1" rose into the sky. And in October 2003, the first Chinese cosmonaut (taikonaut) took off from this cosmodrome. So China became the third country in history with manned space exploration. And in 2005 the second manned flight took place - two taikonauts made 30 orbits around the Earth. In total, from 1970 to 1996, 26 launches were carried out from here. In the 1990s, China began to offer other countries the possibility of commercial use of spaceports, but Jiuquan was not in great demand due to its geographical location. Then it was decided to make this center the main base for the implementation of the national manned spacecraft project. Especially for this, a modern control kit was created, which simply has no equal in the world.

Plesetsk, Russia. The most important cosmodrome in Russia is located 180 kilometers south of Arkhangelsk. This is the northernmost site of its kind with a long history. From the 1970s to the 1990s, it was Plesetsk that was the leader in the number of launches of space rockets, from 1957 to 1993 they were carried out in 1372, which is one and a half times more than Baikonur. The history of the cosmodrome began on January 11, 1957, when the Council of Ministers decided to create the Angara military facility. It was supposed to house the first military unit in the USSR with ballistic missiles. The site was chosen taking into account the reach of the territory of the alleged enemy and so that test launches in the Kamchatka region could be made. But in the summer of 1963, it was decided to convert the military facility into a test facility. The polygon began to develop in two directions: rocket and space. The first launch of the spacecraft took place here in 1966. Since 1968, Plesetsk began to carry out international space programs. Already in 1972, the French vehicle MAC-1 was sent into space from here. With the creation of the military space forces in Russia in 1992, it was Plesetsk that became the First State Cosmodrome. Currently, the cosmodrome has launch sites for all modern domestic carriers of light and medium class, a launch complex is being created for the latest carrier rockets, including heavy ones.

Sea launch. It is quite obvious that if it is not possible to launch rockets from the territory of equatorial states, then a sea floating cosmodrome should be adapted for these purposes. This is exactly what Sea Launch is. This method was used in 1964-1988 on the offshore fixed platform "San Marco" in Kenyan equatorial waters. However, the payload when launched from there was only 200 kilograms. After it became known that a powerful launch vehicle would not be launched from there, Russia, the United States and Ukraine in 1995 created the Sea Launch international consortium. The project cost was $ 3.5 billion. However, in 2009 the company filed for bankruptcy. And the first successful commercial launch took place in 1999. In total, by February 1, 2013, 35 launches were carried out, of which three were unsuccessful. The starting point is a place in the Pacific Ocean, not far from Christmas Island and exactly at the equator. And although this place is considered calm and remote from sea routes, launches had to be postponed several times due to bad weather.

Sriharikota, India. This cosmodrome is part of the Satish Dhwan Space Center. It is located on the island of Sriharikota in the Bay of Bengal. The obvious advantage of this spaceport is its proximity to the equator. The cosmodrome began operating in 1980, although the foundation date is October 1, 1970. Today meteorological satellites are launched from here, and space technology is being tested. On average, India makes two launches from here annually. The cosmodrome has not only launch complexes, but also a tracking station, stands for testing rocket engines. A plant for the production of fuel for carriers was also built here. A lunar mission was launched from the Sriharikot cosmodrome in 2008, and an interplanetary Martian station was launched in 2013.

Vandenberg, USA. Canaveral is considered the main American spaceport. However, this air force base, operated by NASA, is an important place in the history of astronautics. In 1957, the infantry training center was taken over by the Air Force, becoming a center for testing space and ballistic missiles. By 1968, through the acquisition of farm land, the area of ​​the cosmodrome was increased to the present day 400 square kilometers. In 1958, the first ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg, and the following year, a polar-orbiting satellite was launched. In 1972, the spaceport was selected as the site for the launch and landing of the Space Shuttle on the west coast of the United States. The base was significantly modified, however, after the crash of Challenger in 1986, the shuttle program was frozen. The launch complex was again reoriented to launch polar-orbiting satellites, mainly for military purposes. Also next to the launch site is the Rocket and Space Heritage Center, which shows how the base and its technologies have evolved.

To launch spacecraft into space, in addition to the launch pad, a complex of structures is needed where pre-launch activities are carried out: final assembly and docking of the launch vehicle and the spacecraft, pre-launch testing and diagnostics, refueling with fuel and an oxidizer.
Usually, spaceports occupy a large territory and are located at a considerable distance from densely populated places, in order to avoid damage in case of accidents and falls, separated during the flight of stages.

Cosmodromes of the world

The closer the launch point is to the equator, the less energy is required to launch the payload into space. When launched from the equator, it can save about 10% of fuel compared to a rocket launched from a cosmodrome located in mid-latitudes. Since there are not so many states on the equator capable of launching rockets into space, projects of sea-based cosmodromes have appeared.

Russia

The Russian Federation, being a pioneer in space exploration, currently holds the lead in the number of launches. In 2012, our country carried out 24 launches of carrier rockets, unfortunately, not all of them were successful.

The largest "space harbor" in Russia is the Baikonur cosmodrome leased from Kazakhstan. It is located on the territory of Kazakhstan, in the Kyzylorda region between the city of Kazalinsk and the village of Dzhusaly, near the village of Tyuratam. Cosmodrome area: 6717 km². The construction of the cosmodrome began in 1955. On August 21, 1957, the first successful launch of the R-7 rocket took place.

Scheme of the Baikonur cosmodrome

In Soviet times, a huge unparalleled infrastructure was created in the Baikonur area, including, in addition to starting, preparatory and control and measuring complexes, airfields, access roads, office buildings and residential towns. All this after the collapse of the USSR went to independent Kazakhstan.

According to official data, the operation of the cosmodrome in 2012 cost about 5 billion rubles a year (the cost of renting the Baikonur complex is 115 million dollars - about 3.5 billion rubles a year, and Russia spends about 1.5 billion rubles a year on maintenance of the cosmodrome facilities), which amounted to 4.2% of the total budget of Roscosmos for 2012. In addition, from the federal budget of Russia to the budget of the city of Baikonur, a gratuitous receipt in the amount of 1.16 billion rubles is annually carried out (as of 2012). In total, the cosmodrome and the city cost the Russian budget 6.16 billion rubles a year.

At the moment "Baikonur", after its transfer by the military in 2005, is under the jurisdiction of Roskosmos. By the end of 2007, most of the military space units left the cosmodrome, and about 500 Russian servicemen remained at the cosmodrome.

Satellite image of Google Earth: launch pad # 250

The cosmodrome has infrastructure and launch facilities that allow launching carrier rockets:
- medium-sized carriers of the Soyuz family, launch weight up to 313,000 kg (based on R-7) - site No. 1 (Gagarinsky launch), No. 31.
- light launch vehicles "Kosmos", launch weight up to 109,000 kg - site number 41.
- medium-sized carriers of the Zenit family, launch weight up to 462200 kg - site number 45.
- heavy carriers "Proton", launch weight up to 705,000 kg - platforms No. 81, No. 200.
- light carriers of the Cyclone family, launch weight up to 193,000 kg (based on R-36 ICBMs) - site number 90.
- light launch vehicles "Dnepr" ", launch weight up to 211000 kg (joint Russian-Ukrainian development based on the R-36M ICBM) - site No. 175
- light launch vehicles "Rokot" and "Strela", launch weight up to 107,500 kg (based on ICBM UR-100N) - site number 175.
- heavy carriers "Energia", launch weight up to 2,400,000 kg (currently not used) - platforms No. 110, No. 250.

Satellite image of Google Earth: "Gagarin's start"

Despite the regularly received payments for the lease of the cosmodrome and interstate agreements, Kazakhstan periodically interferes with the normal operation of the cosmodrome. So, in 2012, the launches of the European meteorological spacecraft MetOp-B (the launch was planned for May 23), the Russian satellites Kanopus-V and MKA-PN1, the Belarusian spacecraft, the Canadian ADS-1B and the German TET-1 (group launch these five devices were scheduled for June 7), the Russian device "Resurs-P" (planned for August).
The reason was the long-term agreement by the Kazakh side of the use of the fall field of the first stage of carrier rockets in the Kustanai and Aktobe regions (used when launching satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit by the Soyuz carrier rocket).

Due to the position of the Kazakh side, the project of creating a joint Russian-Kazakh rocket and space complex "Baiterek" (based on the new carrier rocket "Angara") was not implemented. It was not possible to reach a compromise on the financing of the project. Probably, Russia will build a launch complex for Angara at the new Vostochny cosmodrome.

Proton-K launches Zvezda module into orbit for ISS

The northernmost cosmodrome in the world is Plesetsk, also known as the 1st State Testing Cosmodrome. It is located 180 kilometers south of Arkhangelsk, not far from the Plesetskaya railway station of the Northern Railway. The cosmodrome covers an area of ​​176,200 hectares. The launch site has been running since January 11, 1957, when the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was adopted on the creation of a military facility with the code name "Angara". The cosmodrome was created as the first military rocket formation in the USSR, armed with R-7 and R-7A intercontinental ballistic missiles.

R-7 carrier family

From the 70s to the early 90s, the Plesetsk cosmodrome held the world leadership in the number of rocket launches into space (from 1957 to 1993, 1,372 launches were made from here, while only 917 from Baikonur, which is in second place).

However, since the 1990s, the annual number of launches from Plesetsk has become less than from Baikonur. The cosmodrome is run by the military; in addition to launching an artificial satellite into orbit, it periodically carries out test launches of ICBMs.

The cosmodrome has stationary technical and launch complexes for domestic light and medium-class launch vehicles: Rokot, Cyclone-3, Kosmos-3M and Soyuz.

Satellite image of Google Earth: launch pad of Soyuz carriers

Also at the cosmodrome there is a test complex designed to test intercontinental ballistic missiles with a silo-type launcher.
The construction of launch and technical complexes for the "Angara" carrier rockets on the basis of the SC "Zenith" is underway.

Launch of the Cyclone-3 rocket from the Plesetsk cosmodrome

The cosmodrome provides a significant part of Russian space programs related to defense, as well as scientific and commercial launches of unmanned spacecraft.

In addition to the main cosmodromes "Baikonur" and "Plesetsk", carrier rockets and spacecraft are periodically launched from other cosmodromes into near-earth orbit.

The most famous of them is the Svobodny cosmodrome. The main reason for the creation of this cosmodrome was the fact that as a result of the collapse of the USSR, the Baikonur cosmodrome was outside the territory of Russia and the impossibility of launching heavy "Protons" from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. It was decided to create a new cosmodrome on the basis of the disbanded 27th Red Banner Far Eastern division of the Strategic Missile Forces, which was previously armed with the UR-100 BR. In 1993, its facilities were transferred to the military space forces. On March 1, 1996, by presidential decree, the 2nd State Test Cosmodrome of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was established here. The total area of ​​this facility is about 700 km2.

The first launch of the Start 1.2 carrier rocket based on the Topol ballistic missile with the Zeya spacecraft took place on March 4, 1997. During the entire existence of the cosmodrome, five rockets have been launched here.

In 1999, a decision was made to build a rocket and launch complex for the Strela launch vehicle at the cosmodrome. However, the "Strela" complex did not pass the state ecological expertise due to the high toxicity of the rocket fuel used in it - heptyl. In June 2005, at a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, it was decided, within the framework of the reduction of the armed forces, to liquidate the Svobodny cosmodrome due to the low intensity of launches and insufficient funding. However, already in 2007, it was decided to create an infrastructure here for launching medium-class launch vehicles. The future cosmodrome was named Vostochny. It is assumed that commercial and scientific launches will be carried out here, and all military launches are planned to be carried out from Plesetsk.

Light carrier rockets of the Cosmos and Dnepr series were also launched from the Kapustin Yar test site and the Yasny launch pad.

At the Kapustin Yar training ground in the Astrakhan region, promising air defense systems are currently being tested. In addition, the Kosmos series launch vehicles with military satellites are periodically launched.

The Yasny complex is located on the territory of the Dombarovsky positional area of ​​the Strategic Missile Forces in the Yasnensky District of the Orenburg Region of Russia. It is used to launch spacecraft using Dnepr carrier rockets. From July 2006 to August 2013, there were six successful commercial launches.

Also in Russia, spacecraft were launched from strategic submarine missile carriers.
On July 7, 1998, two German commercial micro-satellites Tubsat-N were launched into low-earth orbit from the Novomoskovsk SSBN "Novomoskovsk" project 667BDRM "Dolphin", being submerged in the Barents Sea water area. This is the first in the history of space exploration to launch satellites into low-earth orbit with a rocket launch from under water.
On May 26, 2006, the "Compass 2" satellite was successfully launched from the Yekaterinburg SSBN, project 667BDRM "Dolphin".

The most famous US spaceport is by far the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Space Center. Located on Merritt Island in Florida, the center of the launch site is located near Cape Canaveral, midway between Miami and Jacksonville. The Kennedy Space Center is a complex of spacecraft launch and mission control facilities (cosmodrome) owned by NASA. The dimensions of the cosmodrome are 55 km long and about 10 km wide, with an area of ​​567 km².

The cosmodrome was originally founded in 1950 as a test site for missiles. The location of the test site was one of the most convenient in the United States, since spent rocket stages fall into the Atlantic Ocean. However, the location of the cosmodrome is associated with significant natural and meteorological risks. The buildings and structures of the space center were repeatedly seriously damaged by hurricanes, and the planned launches had to be postponed. So in September 2004, part of the Kennedy Space Center facilities were damaged by Hurricane Francis. The vertically assembled building has lost a thousand external panels with an approximate size of 1.2 × 3.0 m each. The outer cladding of 3,700 m² was destroyed. The roof was partially torn off and the interior was extensively water damaged.

Top view of the area of ​​the launch complex number 39

All space shuttle launches were carried out by the Kennedy Space Center from Launch Complex 39. The center is served by approximately 15,000 civil servants and specialists.

The history of this cosmodrome is inextricably linked with the American manned space exploration program. Until July 2011, the Kennedy Space Center was the launch site for the Space Shuttle using Complex 39 with the Apollo infrastructure. The first launch was the Columbia spacecraft on April 12, 1981. The center is also the landing site for orbital shuttles - there is a 4.6 km long landing strip.

Space shuttle "Atlantis"

The last launch of the space shuttle Atlantis took place on May 16, 2011. Then the American reusable spacecraft delivered a cargo of logistics, as well as a magnetic alpha spectrometer, aboard the International Space Station.

Part of the cosmodrome territory is open to the public, there are several museums and cinemas and exhibition grounds. Bus excursion routes are organized on the territory closed for free visits. The cost of the bus tour is $ 38. It includes: a visit to the launch sites of complex 39 and a trip to the Apollo-Saturn V center, an overview of the tracking stations.

The Apollo-Saturn V Center is a huge museum built around the most valuable piece of the exhibition, the reconstructed Saturn V launch vehicle and other space-related artifacts such as the Apollo capsule.

Unmanned spacecraft are launched from launch sites along the coast, they are operated by the United States Air Force and are part of the United States Air Force Base at Cape Canaveral.This base is part of the United States Air Force Space Command. There are 38 launch sites at Cape Canaveral, of which only 4 are operational today. Currently, Delta II and IV, Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets are launched from the cosmodrome.

Satellite image of Google Earth: launch pad at Cape Canaveral

From here, on April 22, 2010, the successful launch of the Boeing X-37 unmanned reusable spacecraft took place for the first time. It was launched into low-earth orbit using an Atlas V launch vehicle.
On March 5, 2011, the device was launched into orbit by an Atlas V launch vehicle, launched from Cape Canaveral. According to the US Air Force, the second X-37B will test sensor devices and satellite systems. On June 16, 2012, the aircraft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, having spent 468 days and 13 hours in orbit, circling the Earth more than seven thousand times.
On December 11, 2012, an apparatus of this type was launched into space for the third time, where it is located to this day.

The X-37 is designed to operate at altitudes of 200-750 km, is capable of quickly changing orbits, maneuvering, performing reconnaissance missions, delivering and returning small loads.

The second largest and most important US space infrastructure facility is Vandenberg Air Force Base. The joint space command center is located here. This is the seat of the 14th Aviation Regiment, the 30th Space Wing, the 381st Training Group and the Western Launch and Test Range, where satellites for military and commercial organizations are launched, as well as tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles, including the Minuteman - 3 ".

Control and training firing of combat missiles is carried out mainly in the south-western direction towards the atolls of Kwajalein and Canton. The total length of the equipped route reaches 10 thousand km. Rocket launches are carried out in a southerly direction. Due to the geographical location of the base, the entire route of their flight passes over the uninhabited regions of the Pacific Ocean.

On December 16, 1958, the first Thor ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg Base. On February 28, 1959, the world's first polar-orbiting satellite Discoverer-1 was launched from Vandenberg on the Tor-Agena carrier rocket. Vandenberg was selected as the launch and landing site for the Space Shuttle on the west coast of the United States.
To launch the shuttles, technical facilities, an assembly building were built and launch complex No. 6 was rebuilt. In addition, the base's existing 2,590-meter runway has been lengthened to 4,580 meters to facilitate shuttle landing. Full maintenance and restoration of the orbiter was carried out using the equipment located here. However, the Challenger explosion caused the cancellation of all shuttle flights from the West Coast.

After the shuttle program was frozen at Vandenberg, Launch Complex 6 was once again redesigned to launch Delta IV launch vehicles. The first of the spacecraft of the Delta IV series, launched from pad 6, was a rocket launched on June 27, 2006, it launched the NROL-22 reconnaissance satellite into orbit.

Launch of the Delta IV launch vehicle from the Vandenberg cosmodrome

Currently, the Vandenberg base facilities are used to launch military satellites, some of them, such as the NROL-28 apparatus, are used to "fight terrorism." NROL-28 launched into highly elliptical orbit to collect intelligence information on terrorist groups in the Middle East; for example, sensors on board such satellites can track the movement of military vehicles on the Earth's surface. The launch of this satellite into space was carried out by the Atlas V launch vehicle, which used Russian RD-180 engines.

For tests within the framework of the missile defense program, the Reagan Proving Grounds are used. Launch sites are located in Kwajelin Atoll and Wake Island. It has existed since 1959. In 1999, the landfill was named after former US President Ronald Reagan.

Since 2004, Omelek Island, part of the test site, has hosted the launch pad for SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch vehicle. In total, 4 orbital launch attempts were made from Omelek Island.

The first three ended unsuccessfully, the fourth rocket launched a mass-dimensional satellite mock-up into orbit. The first commercial launch took place on July 13, 2009. The delay was caused by compatibility issues between the rocket and the Malaysian RazakSat satellite.
The Falcon 1 light-class launch vehicle is partially reusable, the first stage after separation is splashed down and can be reused.

The Wallops Cosmodrome is located on NASA-owned territory and consists of three separate sites with a total area of ​​25 km²: the main base, the center on the mainland and Wallops Island, where the launch site is located. The main base is located on the east coast of Virginia. It was founded in 1945, the first successful launch was made on February 16, 1961, when the research satellite Explorer-9 was launched into low-earth orbit using the Scout X-1 launch vehicle. Has several launch sites.

In 1986, NASA deployed a control and measuring complex on the territory of the test site for tracking and controlling the spacecraft flight. Several radars with antenna diameters of 2.4-26 m provide reception and high-speed transmission of information coming from objects directly to their owners. The technical capabilities of the complex make it possible to carry out trajectory measurements of objects located at a distance of 60 thousand km, with an accuracy of 3 m in range and up to 9 cm / s in speed.
Over the years of its existence, more than 15 thousand launches of various types of rockets have been made from the station's territory; recently, about 30 launches have been made per year.

Since 2006, part of the test site has been leased by a private aerospace corporation and used for commercial launches under the name Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. In 2013, the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer probe was launched to the Moon from the Wallops spaceport by a Minotaur-V launch vehicle.
It also launches the Antares LV, in their first stage, two AJ-26 oxygen-kerosene rocket engines are installed - a modification of the NK-33 engine developed by Aerojet and licensed in the USA for use on American launch vehicles.

Launch vehicle "Antares"

As of March 31, 2010, the company "Aerodget Rocketdine" purchased from SNTK im. Kuznetsov, about 40 NK-33 engines at a price of 1 million US dollars.

Another commercial spaceport is the Kodiak Launch Complex, located on the island of the same name off the coast of Alaska. It was designed to launch light rockets along a suborbital trajectory and launch small spacecraft into polar orbit.
The first experimental rocket launch from the cosmodrome took place on November 5, 1998. The first orbital launch took place on September 29, 2001, when the Athena-1 launch vehicle launched 4 small satellites into orbit.

Launch of the Athena-1 LV from the launch pad on Kadyak Island. September 30, 2001

Despite the "commercial" purpose of the cosmodrome, the Minotavr carrier rockets are regularly launched from it. The Minotaur family of American fully solid-propellant launch vehicles was developed by the Orbital Science Corporation, commissioned by the US Air Force, based on the Minuteman and Piskiper ICBM march stages.

Launch vehicle "Minotaur"

Due to US laws prohibiting the sale of government equipment, the Minotaur launch vehicle can only be used to launch government satellites and is not available for commercial orders. Minotaur V's last successful launch took place on September 6, 2013.

In addition to launching cargo into space using carrier rockets, other programs are being implemented in the United States. In particular, objects were launched into orbit using rockets of the Pegasus series launched from the Stargazer aircraft, a modified Lockheed L-1011.

The system was developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, which specializes in providing commercial services for the delivery of objects into space.

Another example of a private initiative is the reusable Space Ship One developed by Scaled Composites LLC.

Takeoff is carried out using a special aircraft White Knight (White Knight). Then undocking takes place and Space Ship One rises to an altitude of about 50 km. Space Ship One is in space for about three minutes. Flights are carried out from the private aerospace center "Mojave" in the interests of "space tourism".

In 2012, the United States carried out 13 launches of carrier rockets. Yielding to Russia in this indicator, the United States is actively working on the creation of promising launch vehicles and reusable spacecraft.

Based on materials:
http://geimint.blogspot.ru/2007/07/fire-from-space.html
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmodrom
http://georg071941.ru/kosmodromyi-ssha
http://www.walkinspace.ru/blog/2010-12-22-588
All satellite imagery courtesy of Google Earth