Baikonur Cosmodrome – The Oldest Spaceport on Earth

The Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft is raised into vertical position at the launch pad, Dec. 18, 2009.  Image Nasa HQ

There are, to be frank, not many spaceports on the planet as of 2011. Of the thirty or so only six of them have sent people in to space (more than 100km in altitude). Four of those are located in the US, another in China and the sixth and oldest is to be found in Kazakhstan. It is known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome and as well as being the oldest it is also the largest spaceport in the world. It has quite a remarkable history. Still in operation, it has seen huge political change in its time and is set to function as a space port until at least 2050.
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