Baikonur Launch Vehicles

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Primary Types of Launch Vehicles from Baikonur

Rokets of Baikonur

Launch vehicles are multi-stage rockets designed to transport payloads into space, each stage advancing humankind’s reach beyond our planet. Here is a brief overview of the key rocket families that have launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome over the years:

  • Vostok – The first crewed spacecraft family, in service until 1964, and famously the rocket that carried Yuri Gagarin on humanity’s maiden voyage into space. Vostok rockets marked the beginning of space exploration and enabled groundbreaking missions for the Soviet Union.

  • Voskhod – The second generation of crewed spacecraft. A Voskhod vehicle enabled the first human spacewalk, taking exploration a step further by allowing humans to physically exit the spacecraft while in orbit.

  • Proton – A robust workhorse, this launch vehicle was the primary means of sending Soviet and later Russian orbital stations, including the Salyut-DOS and Almaz series, as well as the Mir and ISS modules, into space until 2018. Additionally, it launched numerous satellites for various purposes, demonstrating its versatility and endurance.

  • Zenit – This medium-lift launch vehicle, originally developed during the Soviet era, continued production in Ukraine after the USSR’s dissolution, with close Russian-Ukrainian collaboration for manufacturing and launch operations. Zenit proved a critical asset for launching both Russian and international payloads.

  • Soyuz – The third generation of Soviet and Russian crewed spacecraft, Soyuz has long been synonymous with reliable space travel. Later versions, particularly the Soyuz-5, remain in use under Roscosmos’ programs, ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station and beyond.

  • Energia – A powerful launch vehicle developed to deploy the reusable Buran space shuttle. Unlike its American counterpart, the Space Shuttle, Energia was designed for multiple uses, offering advanced capabilities and versatility.

  • Buran – The Soviet answer to the American Space Shuttle, Buran achieved its first and only spaceflight on November 15, 1988, in an uncrewed mission. This reusable spacecraft was launched into orbit on a fully automated mission, showcasing Soviet engineering prowess despite its limited operational history.

Each of these launch vehicles represents a milestone in the quest to explore the cosmos, with Baikonur standing as a testament to human ingenuity and the pursuit of knowledge beyond Earth.