ncoverby@ndsuvax.UUCP (Glen Overby) (04/01/89)
In article <1989Mar28.045026.7380@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: >Cover: photo of the systems-test prototype of the Soviet shuttle, >in its bay at Baikonur. ^^^^^^^ If I recall correctly what was said in James Oberg's _Red Star in Orbit_, the city of Baikonur doesn't even exist! It was a cover-up (that they're still using) to keep the US (and others) from knowing their exact launch site (then Tyrantrum[sp]). Now my question: where is the true place that the Soviet shuttle (and other space shots) is launched from? I seem to recall hearing one time about two locations. Latitude and Longitude would be nice to know, too. -- Glen Overby <ncoverby@plains.nodak.edu> uunet!ndsuvax!ncoverby (UUCP) ncoverby@ndsuvax (Bitnet)
mcdowell@cfa250.harvard.edu (Jonathan McDowell) (04/03/89)
From article <2500@ndsuvax.UUCP>, by ncoverby@ndsuvax.UUCP (Glen Overby): > If I recall correctly what was said in James Oberg's _Red Star in Orbit_, > the city of Baikonur doesn't even exist! The main Soviet launch site really is called Kosmodrom Baykonur. There is a huge sign saying "Baykonur" at the entrance! It should not be confused with the village of Baykonur some 200 km uprange. The cosmodrome lies several miles from the city of Leninsk, which was built on the site of the small town of Tyuratam; Western sources still sometimes refer to the launch site as Tyuratam. The Soyuz pads at Baykonur are located at 46.0 degrees N, 63.5 to 64.0 degrees E. The SS-9 pads are at about 63.0 degrees E, and Proton and Energia are somewhere inbetween. It is a huge place. (Coordinates based on Landsat photos and on working back the orbital ground tracks.) .----------------------------------------------------------------. | Jonathan McDowell | phone : (617)495-7144 | | Center for Astrophysics | uucp: husc6!harvard!cfa200!mcdowell | | 60 Garden Street | bitnet : mcdowell@cfa.bitnet | | Cambridge MA 02138 | inter : mcdowell@cfa.harvard.edu | | USA | span : cfa::mcdowell | | | telex : 92148 SATELLITE CAM | | | FAX : (617)495-7356 | '----------------------------------------------------------------'
henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (04/03/89)
In article <2500@ndsuvax.UUCP> ncoverby@plains.nodak.edu (Glen Overby) writes: >If I recall correctly what was said in James Oberg's _Red Star in Orbit_, >the city of Baikonur doesn't even exist! It was a cover-up... > >Now my question: where is the true place that the Soviet shuttle (and other >space shots) is launched from? The Baikonur Cosmodrome. That is its official name. The name is indeed a relic of a deception attempt, since the town of Baikonur -- which does exist -- is far away and has nothing to do with the Cosmodrome. >I seem to recall hearing one time about two locations. The other major Soviet launch site is Plesetsk; the traffic is split about 50-50. Plesetsk is primarily military and has been very highly secret until quite recently. -- Welcome to Mars! Your | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology passport and visa, comrade? | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu