Baikonur Cosmodrome: Russia's Iconic Space Launch Site in Kazakhstan
Imagine sitting in Yuri Gagarin's chair, witnessing a rocket launch, and exploring Soviet space history. You're at Baikonur Cosmodrome in remote southern Kazakhstan—the launch site of the first cosmonauts, including legendary Yuri Gagarin. Today, it hosts modern feats like Russian rockets deploying American satellites.
A Soviet-era enclave absent from maps until the USSR's collapse, Baikonur was built to dominate the space race. Russia now leases it from Kazakhstan, aiding the Kazakh Space Agency. Locals are deeply tied to space operations. Visitors are drawn to Cold War relics: Yuri Gagarin mosaics and massive Proton rockets adorn the town.
Soviet-style security persists—Russian guards bar casual entry, and special permits are needed even from trains. Yet, it's rewarding, especially during commercial launches or rare manned missions. Visit the Space Museum for Gagarin's pre-flight cottage and the Buran shuttle.
Unlike tourist-packed Cape Canaveral or Houston, Baikonur offers solitude—enjoy the original Sputnik alone. From Cold War legacy to today's commerce, it evokes Flash Gordon on the Kazakh steppe, where tomorrow mirrors 1959.
Iain Shearer traveled to Kazakhstan for Lonely Planet. Follow his journeys on Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled, screening on National Geographic.
