On June 2, 1955, the government of the Soviet Union determined to build a distinctive rocket range in the Kazakhstan region, which created the foundation for the first spaceport on the planet. The first satellite, (Sputnik, and the first human, (Yuri Gagarin, were launched into space from the Cosmodrome.
Over the decades, the site has been used primarily for the launching of cosmonauts of the Soviet Union and Russia; after NASA mothballed the Shuttle program, a number of American and European astronauts have launched from there. In 2020, the Commercial Crew Program began to conduct launches of astronauts to participate in missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and occasionally, astronauts return to Earth via the Cosmodrome. Baikonur continues to be a busy spaceport, with commercial, scientific, and military missions being launched on a regular basis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the people of Kazakhstan, said, “We pay tribute to the titanic, selfless work of hundreds of thousands of people from all the Union republics—those who pioneered, designed and built Baikonur, and worked at the cosmodrome from the moment of its foundation. We remember with warmth the scientists and designers, test pilots, civilian personnel and military personnel whose work, talent and courage wrote the glorious chronicle of Russian and world cosmonautics. Here, at Baikonur, a new era in the history of mankind began, here dreams became reality.” Putin assured them that Russia will continue to manage the Cosmodrome, and help to advance and uplift the cities of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a video address, in which he praised and congratulated all of the workers and veterans of the Cosmodrome, and said, “New opportunities can open up by exploring space service markets and helping young engineers, designers, and scientists reach their full potential.”
He also emphasized that the role of Kazakhstan in the space exploration arena with Russia showed that strategic partnerships could flourish if based on friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual benefit.
