Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 110
Encyclopedia
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 110/37 or 110L. Four N1 launches were made from the complex, as well as one Energia launch carrying the Buran spaceplane
.
spacecraft and the LK lander. The N1 made four flights, all of which were launched from Site 110, and all of which failed before the first stage had completed its burn. The first launch from the complex occurred from Site 110/38 on 21 February 1969, and was followed by another launch from the same pad on 3 July 1969. During the second launch the number 8 engine exploded a quarter of a second after liftoff, starting a fire at the base of the rocket. The rocket cleared the tower but by 12 seconds into the flight the fire had caused all but one of the remaining engines to fail, and the rocket fell back onto the launch pad. The resulting explosion destroyed the right pad, shattered windows six kilometres from the pad, and could be seen 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) away in Leninsk
. It took over eighteen months to rebuild the pad.
N1 launches resumed on 26 June 1971, with the first from the left pad. Following its failure, and the failure of another launch on 23 November 1972, the development N1 was abandoned. Site 110 was then rebuilt as an Energia launch complex.
for testing and unmanned launches. Energia only flew twice; the first flight was made from Site 250, and the second from Site 110/37. The launch occurred at 03:00 UTC on 15 November 1988, carrying the Buran spacecraft on an unmanned test flight. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union
the Energia and Buran programmes were cancelled, and the complex was abandoned. Today both pads are still standing, but have fallen into disrepair.
Site 110 was considered as a location for the Bayterek Launch Complex, which is to be built at Baikonur for Angara launches, however Baikonur's other Energia launch complex, Site 250, was chosen instead. Site 200/40
, a Proton launch complex, had also been under consideration.
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...
is a launch facility which was used by the N1 rocket during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and 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 two launch pads; The right, or east pad, 110/38 or 110R, was completed first, followed by the left pad 110/37 or 110L. Four N1 launches were made from the complex, as well as one Energia launch carrying the Buran spaceplane
Spaceplane
A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
.
N1
Site 110 was built in the 1960s as part of the Soviet manned lunar programme, for use by the N1 rocket. It was intended as the launch site for manned lunar landing missions using the Soyuz 7K-L3Soyuz 7K-L3
The Soyuz 7K-LOK, or simply LOK was a Soviet spacecraft designed to launch men from Earth to circle the moon and developed in parallel to the 7K-L1. The LOK would carry two cosmonauts into orbit around the Moon, acting as "mother" spacecraft for the LK Lander, which would land one member of the...
spacecraft and the LK lander. The N1 made four flights, all of which were launched from Site 110, and all of which failed before the first stage had completed its burn. The first launch from the complex occurred from Site 110/38 on 21 February 1969, and was followed by another launch from the same pad on 3 July 1969. During the second launch the number 8 engine exploded a quarter of a second after liftoff, starting a fire at the base of the rocket. The rocket cleared the tower but by 12 seconds into the flight the fire had caused all but one of the remaining engines to fail, and the rocket fell back onto the launch pad. The resulting explosion destroyed the right pad, shattered windows six kilometres from the pad, and could be seen 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) away in Leninsk
Baikonur
Baikonur , formerly known as Leninsk, is a city in Kyzylorda Province of Kazakhstan, rented and administered by the Russian Federation. It was constructed to service the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was officially renamed Baikonur by Russian president Boris Yeltsin on December 20, 1995.The shape of the...
. It took over eighteen months to rebuild the pad.
N1 launches resumed on 26 June 1971, with the first from the left pad. Following its failure, and the failure of another launch on 23 November 1972, the development N1 was abandoned. Site 110 was then rebuilt as an Energia launch complex.
Energia
Both pads at Site 110 were converted for use by manned flights using Energia rockets, with a third pad being constructed from the ground up at Site 250Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 250
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...
for testing and unmanned launches. Energia only flew twice; the first flight was made from Site 250, and the second from Site 110/37. The launch occurred at 03:00 UTC on 15 November 1988, carrying the Buran spacecraft on an unmanned test flight. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
the Energia and Buran programmes were cancelled, and the complex was abandoned. Today both pads are still standing, but have fallen into disrepair.
Site 110 was considered as a location for the Bayterek Launch Complex, which is to be built at Baikonur for Angara launches, however Baikonur's other Energia launch complex, Site 250, was chosen instead. Site 200/40
Baikonur 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...
, a Proton launch complex, had also been under consideration.