Plesetsk Cosmodrome

Plesetsk Cosmodrome
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Name	Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Country	Russia
Location	Arkhangelsk Oblast
Operator	Russian Aerospace Forces
Launches	over 1,500

Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a major Russian Aerospace Forces spaceport located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, and has been in operation since 1957, with notable collaborations with Roscosmos, European Space Agency, and NASA. The cosmodrome has played a crucial role in the development of Soviet space program and Russian space program, with numerous launches of R-7 rocket, Vostok rocket, and Soyuz rocket. Plesetsk Cosmodrome has also been used for launches of GLONASS satellites, Meteor satellite, and Resurs-P satellites, in partnership with Russian Federal Space Agency and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The cosmodrome's operations are supported by Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow State University, and Bauman Moscow State Technical University.

● History

The history of Plesetsk Cosmodrome dates back to 1957, when it was established as a Soviet Air Forces base, with the primary goal of testing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), such as the R-7 rocket and R-9 Desna. The cosmodrome was also used for launches of Vostok spacecraft, including Vostok 1, which carried Yuri Gagarin into space, and Vostok 6, which carried Valentina Tereshkova into space, in collaboration with Soviet Academy of Sciences and Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Plesetsk Cosmodrome has been used for numerous launches of Soyuz spacecraft, including Soyuz 11, which carried Georgi Dobrovolsky, Viktor Patsayev, and Valentin Volkov to Salyut 1 space station, and Soyuz T-2, which carried Yuri Malyshev and Vladimir Aksyonov to Salyut 6 space station, with support from Russian Federal Space Agency and European Astronaut Centre. The cosmodrome has also been used for launches of Progress spacecraft, including Progress 1, which was launched to Salyut 6 space station, and Progress 40, which was launched to International Space Station, in partnership with NASA and Canadian Space Agency.

● Geography and Climate

Plesetsk Cosmodrome is located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, approximately 800 kilometers north of Moscow, and is situated near the cities of Mirny and Plesetsk. The cosmodrome is surrounded by taiga forests and is located near the Pechora River, which provides access to the White Sea and the Barents Sea, with nearby ports including Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. The climate in the region is subarctic climate, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers, similar to Lapland and Alaska. The cosmodrome's location allows for launches into a variety of orbits, including polar orbit and sun-synchronous orbit, with support from Russian Hydrometeorological Center and European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.

● Facilities and Infrastructure

Plesetsk Cosmodrome has a wide range of facilities and infrastructure, including launch pads, processing facilities, and support buildings, with collaborations with Roscosmos, Thales Alenia Space, and Astrium. The cosmodrome has two main launch pads, Pad 16 and Pad 43, which are used for launches of Soyuz rocket and Rokot rocket, and have been used for launches of GLONASS satellites and Meteor satellite, in partnership with Russian Federal Space Agency and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The cosmodrome also has a number of processing facilities, including the MIK-1 and MIK-2 facilities, which are used for preparation and integration of spacecraft and launch vehicles, with support from Russian Academy of Sciences and Moscow State University. The cosmodrome's infrastructure includes railway and road connections, as well as airport facilities, with nearby airports including Arkhangelsk Airport and Murmansk Airport.

● Launch Vehicles and Missions

Plesetsk Cosmodrome has been used for launches of a variety of launch vehicles, including Soyuz rocket, Rokot rocket, and Tsyklon-3 rocket, with collaborations with Roscosmos, European Space Agency, and NASA. The cosmodrome has been used for launches of numerous spacecraft, including GLONASS satellites, Meteor satellite, and Resurs-P satellites, in partnership with Russian Federal Space Agency and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The cosmodrome has also been used for launches of Progress spacecraft, including Progress 1, which was launched to Salyut 6 space station, and Progress 40, which was launched to International Space Station, with support from NASA and Canadian Space Agency. Plesetsk Cosmodrome has been used for launches of interplanetary spacecraft, including Phobos 1 and Phobos 2, which were launched to Mars, and Luna 24, which was launched to the Moon, in collaboration with Soviet Academy of Sciences and Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

● Operations and Management

Plesetsk Cosmodrome is operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces, with support from Roscosmos and Russian Federal Space Agency. The cosmodrome is managed by the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Directorate, which is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the cosmodrome, including launch preparations, launch operations, and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, in partnership with Russian Academy of Sciences and Moscow State University. The cosmodrome's operations are supported by a range of organizations, including Russian Hydrometeorological Center, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Plesetsk Cosmodrome has a strong safety record, with a high level of reliability and efficiency, and has been used for numerous launches of Soyuz spacecraft and Progress spacecraft, with collaborations with NASA and European Space Agency.

● Notable Launches and Events

Plesetsk Cosmodrome has been used for numerous notable launches and events, including the launch of Vostok 1, which carried Yuri Gagarin into space, and Vostok 6, which carried Valentina Tereshkova into space, in collaboration with Soviet Academy of Sciences and Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The cosmodrome has also been used for launches of Soyuz 11, which carried Georgi Dobrovolsky, Viktor Patsayev, and Valentin Volkov to Salyut 1 space station, and Soyuz T-2, which carried Yuri Malyshev and Vladimir Aksyonov to Salyut 6 space station, with support from Russian Federal Space Agency and European Astronaut Centre. Plesetsk Cosmodrome has been used for launches of GLONASS satellites, including GLONASS 801, which was launched in 2010, and GLONASS 802, which was launched in 2011, in partnership with Russian Federal Space Agency and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The cosmodrome has also been used for launches of Meteor satellite, including Meteor 1-1, which was launched in 1969, and Meteor 3-5, which was launched in 1991, with collaborations with Roscosmos, European Space Agency, and NASA.