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Just before COVID I trekked into Baïkonour - just next to the building with the Burans is Yuri Gagarin's launch pad - which is quite amazing to see. Photos for

by kweks 6y ago

Just before COVID I trekked into Baïkonour - just next to the building with the Burans is Yuri Gagarin's launch pad - which is quite amazing to see. Photos for the interested: https://ninjito.com/2020-02-05-Baikonour https://ninjito.com/2020-02-05-Baikonour (Gagarin's launch pad in the second to last photo)

gnull 6y ago
What a mess. Is the hangar on the first photos abandoned? Can anyone freely get inside? (Beautiful photos!)
- kweks 6y ago
  There are a multitude of abandoned structures (including the tall building next to this one, with a life size mockup of Russia's heavy lift rocket). It's not legal, but if you're willing make the 35km hike in, it's not highly protected either (at least for the abandoned structures - I wouldn't go near the active launch structures). With that said, you can also take legal (albeit expensive) tours, which look quite fascinating as well - staying in the Sputnik hotel, seeing the Gagarin launch pad, etc
  - datameta 6y ago
    Not the most technical of narrations of the Buran but it details the trek which they make mid-winter at night to avoid patrols https://youtu.be/5HebeCZwo08 https://youtu.be/5HebeCZwo08
    - kweks 6y ago
      Similar for my trip, the Kazak winter has certain advantages, but also increases logistic difficulties (-30°C.. everything freezes..), and you have to be completely autonomous. We were severely limited by water, and the continuous juggle to rotate water and gas canisters inside your jackets to keep everything liquid as possible. Likewise winter also means you have to work extra hard to cover tracks etc..
  - avmich 6y ago
    I've witnessed firsthand the launch of forth ISS expedition on April 2004. Wanted to see the launch directly with eyes, so the video was shot without aiming :) . Regarding Baykonur infrastructure - it's similar, in a sense of relation to a high achievement, to the Voyager restaurant in Mojave, California. Similar feelings.
hesk 6y ago
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.

by kweks 6y ago

gnull 6y ago

What a mess. Is the hangar on the first photos abandoned? Can anyone freely get inside? (Beautiful photos!)

kweks 6y ago
There are a multitude of abandoned structures (including the tall building next to this one, with a life size mockup of Russia's heavy lift rocket). It's not legal, but if you're willing make the 35km hike in, it's not highly protected either (at least for the abandoned structures - I wouldn't go near the active launch structures). With that said, you can also take legal (albeit expensive) tours, which look quite fascinating as well - staying in the Sputnik hotel, seeing the Gagarin launch pad, etc
- datameta 6y ago
  Not the most technical of narrations of the Buran but it details the trek which they make mid-winter at night to avoid patrols https://youtu.be/5HebeCZwo08 https://youtu.be/5HebeCZwo08
  - kweks 6y ago
    Similar for my trip, the Kazak winter has certain advantages, but also increases logistic difficulties (-30°C.. everything freezes..), and you have to be completely autonomous. We were severely limited by water, and the continuous juggle to rotate water and gas canisters inside your jackets to keep everything liquid as possible. Likewise winter also means you have to work extra hard to cover tracks etc..
- avmich 6y ago
  I've witnessed firsthand the launch of forth ISS expedition on April 2004. Wanted to see the launch directly with eyes, so the video was shot without aiming :) . Regarding Baykonur infrastructure - it's similar, in a sense of relation to a high achievement, to the Voyager restaurant in Mojave, California. Similar feelings.

hesk 6y ago

Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.