Kazakh space program

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The space program of Kazakhstan is originated from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, when Kazakhstan declared their independence. The Kazakh space program consist of cosmonaut and satellite missions. The only launch site situated at Kazakhstan is Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased to Russia. The program is led by KazCosmos since 2007.

Contents

History

The first Kazakh person to go to space is Toktar Aubakirov in 1991, followed by Talgat Musabayev in 1994. [1] On 7 January 2000, the government of Kazakhstan decreed it would form a cosmonaut corps. [2] Out of 2000 candidates, two were selected, Aidyn Aimbetov and Mukhtar Aymakhanov, in 2002. [3] Aymakhanov left Kazakhstan in 2012 to become a Russian citizen to pursue a cosmonaut career. [4] Aimbetov was selected for Soyuz TMA-18M/Soyuz TMA-16M in June 2015.

On 18 June 2006, the KazSat-1 was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, marking the beginning of Kazakhstan's independent inflight space operations. [5] In 2008 communications with the satellite ended, and it was declared lost. [6] The next satellite, KazSat-2, experienced a series of delays, but was launched on 16 July 2011 on board a Proton rocket. KazSat-2 was built by Krunichev and Thales Alenia Space. [7] KazCosmos signed a contract with ISS-Reshetnev and Thales Alenia Space Italy on 21 June 2011 for the third telecommunications satellite, named KazSat-3 and launched it in 2014. Two more satellites, KazEOSat 2 and Al Farabi-1, were launched in 29 June 2014 and 15 February 2017, respectively.

Launch site

The Cosmodrome's "Gagarin's Start" launchpad on 10 October 2008, prior to the rollout of Soyuz TMA-13. Baikonur Cosmodrome Soyuz launch pad.jpg
The Cosmodrome's "Gagarin's Start" launchpad on 10 October 2008, prior to the rollout of Soyuz TMA-13.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome [lower-alpha 1] is a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur, it is the largest operational space launch facility in terms of area. [8] All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur. [9]

Situated in the Kazakh Steppe, some 90 metres (300 ft) above sea level, it is 200 kilometres (120 mi) to the east of the Aral Sea and north of the Syr Darya. It is close to Töretam, a station on the Trans-Aral Railway. Russia, as the official successor state to the Soviet Union, has retained control over the facility since 1991; it originally assumed this role through the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), but ratified an agreement with Kazakhstan in 2005 that allowed it to lease the spaceport until 2050. It is jointly managed by Roscosmos and the Russian Aerospace Forces.[ citation needed ]

In 1955, the Soviet Ministry of Defence issued a decree and founded the Baikonur Cosmodrome. [10] It was originally built as the chief base of operations for the Soviet space program. The Cosmodrome served as the launching point for Sputnik 1 and Vostok 1. The launchpad used for both missions was renamed "Gagarin's Start" in honour of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who piloted Vostok 1 and became the first human in outer space. [11] Under the current Russian management, Baikonur remains a busy spaceport, with numerous commercial, military, and scientific missions being launched annually. [12] [13] [14]

Notes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toktar Aubakirov</span> Soviet cosmonaut (born 1946)

Toktar Ongarbayuly Aubakirov is a retired Kazakh Air Force officer and a former cosmonaut. He is the first person from Kazakhstan to go to space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz programme</span> Human spaceflight programme of the Soviet Union

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spaceport</span> Location used to launch and receive spacecraft

A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories. However, rocket launch sites for purely sub-orbital flights are sometimes called spaceports, as in recent years new and proposed sites for suborbital human flights have been frequently referred to or named "spaceports". Space stations and proposed future bases on the Moon are sometimes called spaceports, in particular if intended as a base for further journeys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baikonur Cosmodrome</span> Spaceport in Kazakhstan leased to Russia

The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Located in the Kazakh city of Baikonur, it is the largest operational space launch facility in terms of area. All Russian crewed spaceflights are launched from Baikonur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baikonur</span> City in Kazakhstan with a Russian spaceport

Baikonur, formerly known as Leninsk, is a city in Kazakhstan on the northern bank of the Syr Darya river. It is currently leased and administered by the Russian Federation as an enclave until 2050. It was constructed to service the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was officially renamed Baikonur by Russian president Boris Yeltsin on December 20, 1995. During the Soviet period, it was sometimes referred to as Zvezdograd (Звездоград), Russian for Star City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plesetsk Cosmodrome</span> Spaceport in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, northwestern Russia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gagarin's Start</span> Launch site at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

Gagarin's Start, also known as Baikonur Site 1 or Site 1/5 was a launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan that was used by the Soviet space program and Roscosmos.

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The Vostochny Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport above the 51st parallel north in the Amur Oblast, in the Russian Far East. It is intended to reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The first launch took place on 28 April 2016 at 02:01 UTC. As of 1 July 2022, eleven launch attempts have been made with ten successes.

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Aidyn Akanuly Aimbetov is a Kazakh cosmonaut.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergey Prokopyev (cosmonaut)</span> Russian cosmonaut (born 1975)

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References

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  12. Putz, Catherine (2 June 2015). "World's Most Important Spaceport Turns 60". The Diplomat. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
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  14. Wilson, Jim (5 August 2000). "Safe Launch For Critical Space Station Module". Popular Mechanics .