Baikonur[a] is a city inKazakhstan on the northern bank of theSyr Darya river. It is currently leased and administered by theRussian Federation as anenclave until 2050.[3] It was constructed to serve theBaikonur Cosmodrome with administrative offices and employee housing. During the Soviet period, the town was known asLeninsk, and was sometimes referred to asZvezdograd (Russian:Звездоград,lit. 'Star City').[4] It was officially renamed Baikonur by Russian presidentBoris Yeltsin on December 20, 1995.
The Russian controlled area is an ellipse measuring 90 kilometres (56 mi) east to west by 85 km (53 mi) north to south, with the cosmodrome situated at the area's centre.
Foreign visitors and tourists can visit the cosmodrome and city but need to obtain a specific permit fromRoscosmos.
The originalBaikonur (Kazakh for "wealthy brown", i.e. "fertile land with many herbs") is amining town 320 kilometres northeast of the present location, nearDzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan'sKaragandy Region. Starting withVostok 1 in April 1961, the launch site was given this name to cause confusion and keep the location secret. (The original Baikonur's residents took advantage of the confusion by ordering and receiving many scarce materials before government officials discovered the deception.)[5] Baikonur's railway station predates the base and retains the old name ofTyuratam. This was the original Soviet railway station (railhead) on theMoscow to Tashkent Railway that the Cosmodrome was initially named after.
Due to the city's military and scientific significance, it wasclosed off by Soviet authorities. It did not appear on maps available to the general public during the Soviet period prior toperestroika.
The Soviet government established the Nauchno-Issledovatel'skii Ispytatel'nyi Poligon N.5 (NIIIP-5), or Scientific-Research Test Range N.5 by its decree of 12 February 1955. TheU-2 high-altitudereconnaissance plane found and photographed the Tyuratam missile test range (cosmodrome Baikonur) for the first time on 5 August 1957.[6][7]
The town has unique ties with space, and hence the history of the rocket building and space binds all the sights in the area and the cosmodrome. However, there are only a few exceptions: old locomotive, an Orthodox Church and a new mosque.[8]
In addition, in accordance with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, the city of Baikonur (a city of regional subordination in the Kyzylorda region of the Republic of Kazakhstan) shall be granted unofficial status of acity of federal significance of the Russian Federation in relations with the Russian Federation for the period of its lease of the Baikonur cosmodrome complex (until 2050)[11] however, it is not part of Russia - the agreement directly defines the city as an administrative unit of Kazakhstan, although it operates under a lease.
South of city center, near the Syr Darya River there is a large park with several sports and amusement facilities. Among these is a ferris wheel, which is no longer in use. The park is located at coordinates45°36′42″N63°19′06″E / 45.61167°N 63.31833°E /45.61167; 63.31833.
Baikonur features acold desert climate (BWk). Summers are hot with July highs averaging slightly over 34 °C (93 °F), while winters are cold, with longer periods of sustained below-freezing temperatures.[12]
"Unknown Baikonur" - edited by B. I. Posysaeva, M.: "globe", 2001.ISBN5-8155-0051-8
"Rocket and space feat Baikonur" - Vladimir Порошков, the "Patriot" publishers 2007.ISBN5-7030-0969-3
A.I. Ostashev,Sergey Pavlovich Korolyov - The Genius of the 20th Century — 2010 M. of Public Educational Institution of Higher Professional Training MGULISBN978-5-8135-0510-2.
"Bank of the Universe" - edited by Boltenko A. C.,Kyiv, 2014., publishing house "Phoenix",ISBN978-966-136-169-9
"We grew hearts in Baikonur" - Author: Eliseev V. I. M: publisher OAO MPK in 2018,ISBN978-5-8493-0415-1
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