Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 250
Encyclopedia
Site 250 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
, also known as UKSS and Bayterek , is a test facility and launch site which was used by the Energia
rocket during the 1980s. The site consists of a single launch pad, which doubled as a test stand, and is supported by an engineering area and a propellant storage facility. the complex is scheduled to be rebuilt as the Bayterek Launch Complex, which will be used by the Angara rocket from 2015, however development is yet to begin.
blamed the failure of the N1 programme on the lack of facilities to perform static tests. The only launch to have taken place from Site 250 was the maiden flight of the Energia rocket, carrying the Polyus spacecraft, which occurred on 15 May 1987. Energia was abandoned after just two launches, the other of which took place from Site 110
.
as had originally been planned, and Site 110 which was also under consideration. This decision was officially confirmed in 2009.
Today the UKSS at Site 250 is still standing, however it is deteriorating. Construction work for Bayterek is yet to begin.
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
, also known as UKSS and Bayterek , is a test facility and launch site which was used by the Energia
Energia
Energia was a Soviet rocket that was designed by NPO Energia to serve as a heavy-lift expendable launch system as well as a booster for the Buran spacecraft. Control system main developer enterprise was the NPO "Electropribor"...
rocket during the 1980s. The site consists of a single launch pad, which doubled as a test stand, and is supported by an engineering area and a propellant storage facility. the complex is scheduled to be rebuilt as the Bayterek Launch Complex, which will be used by the Angara rocket from 2015, however development is yet to begin.
Energia
Site 250 was built in the late 1970s as the Universal Complex Stand-Start (UKSS) to support Energia development, and unlike other Soviet launch complexes it was designed to support long-duration static tests as well as launches, after Valentin GlushkoValentin Glushko
Valentin Petrovich Glushko or Valentyn Petrovych Hlushko was a Soviet engineer, and the principal Soviet designer of rocket engines during the Soviet/American Space Race.-Biography:...
blamed the failure of the N1 programme on the lack of facilities to perform static tests. The only launch to have taken place from Site 250 was the maiden flight of the Energia rocket, carrying the Polyus spacecraft, which occurred on 15 May 1987. Energia was abandoned after just two launches, the other of which took place from Site 110
Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 110
Site 110 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a launch facility which was used by the N1 rocket during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and by the Energia rocket during the 1980s. The site consists of a two launch pads; The right, or east pad, 110/38 or 110R, was completed first, followed by the left pad...
.
Angara
Following the cancellation of the Energia programme Site 250 fell out of use. In 2008 Site 250 was selected for development of an Angara launch complex at Baikonur, the Bayterek Launch Complex, instead of Site 200/40Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200
Site 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a launch site used by Proton rockets. It consists of two launch pads, areas 39 and 40. Area 39 is currently used for Proton-M launches, including commercial flights conducted by International Launch Services. Area 40 is currently inactive, as it was slated to...
as had originally been planned, and Site 110 which was also under consideration. This decision was officially confirmed in 2009.
Today the UKSS at Site 250 is still standing, however it is deteriorating. Construction work for Bayterek is yet to begin.