Russia, Kazakhstan to build up Baikonur capabilities.

21/12 Tass 145

BAIKONUR (Kazakhstan), December 21 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and
Kazakhstan can build up jointly the capabilities of the Baikonur spaceport
despite the planned construction of the Vostochny spaceport in the Amur
region, chief of the Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) Anatoly Perminov
told Itar-Tass.
"Baikonur was, is and will be the leading spaceport regardless the
construction of a Russian spaceport in the Far East," he said.
Perminov noted that this sophisticated spaceport is to make launches
of freighters Soyuz, heavy rockets Proton and boosters Zenith until 2020.
"It is unprofitable both for Russia and Kazakhstan to curtail the
operation of the Baikonur spaceport," Perminov said. "The operation of the
spaceport cannot be wrapped up, it is necessary to build up its
capabilities and to provide for its operation together with Kazakhstan,"
he noted.
The Baikonur spaceport is the first and largest world spaceport, which
is situated in Kazakhstan. The spaceport has an area of 6,717 square
kilometers.
The ISS orbit was set with due account of the Baikonur latitude. The
major launches are made from the spaceport. Baikonur is the only Russian
spaceport, which provides for manned space programs. Other Russian
spaceports are not suitable for such launches.
Baikonur was established as a spaceport in 1957. Since the Soviet
Union breakup in the early 90s the spaceport belongs to Kazakhstan. Russia
leases the spaceport until 2050 with the annual payment of 115 million
dollars. Alongside, Russia pays 50 million dollars annually to Kazakhstan
to maintain and develop the spaceport's infrastructure. Russia also funds
the life-supporting facilities in a town, where the specialists catering
for Baikonur live.
The Vostochny spaceport in the Amur region is to be launched into
construction in 2011. The tentative cost of the project is 400 billion
roubles. The first automatic launch is scheduled for 2015; manned
spaceships are to be launched from the Amur spaceport in 2018.
-0-baz/gor