Cosmodromes - composition and types. Cosmodrome: general characteristics

On April 28 at 05:01 Moscow time, the first-ever launch took place from the new Vostochny cosmodrome in the Amur Region. The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket successfully launched three scientific satellites into orbit. How did the historical launch go, what problems were there during the launch and what is the significance of the new space harbor for the region - in the TASS material.

How was the first launch?

The successful launch of the rocket from Vostochny took place on April 28 at 05:01 Moscow time.
Approximately nine minutes later, the bundle of satellites and the Volga upper stage separated from the third stage of the carrier.
At 07:07 Moscow time, the satellites separated from the upper stage: first SamSat-218, then Lomonosov and Aist-2D and entered the target orbit.
An hour after the launch, specialists received telemetry through the Luch space relay system.

What was launched?

The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Volga upper stage launched the Lomonosov and Aist-2D university satellites, as well as the SamSat-218 nanosatellite, into space.
Soyuz-2.1a- Russian disposable space rocket. It is a modification of the Soyuz-2 space rocket, which was created in the mid-1990s. based on Soyuz-U (in operation since 1973).
Satellite "Lomonosov" manufactured by JSC "Corporation" VNIIEM "by order of the Moscow state university them. M.V. Lomonosov (Moscow State University). It was created as part of a scientific and educational project of Moscow State University with the participation of specialists from the USA, Germany, Canada and other countries. Initially, it was planned to launch it in 2011 on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the university, the Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.
Small Earth Remote Sensing Satellite "Aist-2D"(D - demonstrator) - a joint development of scientists from the Samara State Aerospace University them. Academician S.P. Korolev (SSAU) and specialists from the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RCC Progress, Samara). Work on the creation of the spacecraft has been carried out since 2014.
SamSat-218("SamSat-218"; another name: "Contact-Nanosputnik") is the first Russian student nanosatellite (such devices weigh up to 10 kg). Designed and manufactured by SSAU students and scientists in 2014. It is intended for testing algorithms for controlling the orientation of nanosatellites.

What are the first launch estimates?

Space Classes, Pudding, and Achievement for the Whole Planet: About the First Launch from Vostochny.

What were the problems at launch?

According to the original plan, the first launch from Vostochny was to take place as early as December 2015, but by this time the object had not been delivered.
On April 27, 2016 at 05:01 Moscow time, the launch of the rocket was interrupted by automatics a minute and a half before the launch. April 28th became the reserve date.
Automation revealed a failure in one of the devices of the carrier control system, which is responsible for turning the engines on and off, separating the stages, and the direction of flight.
Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in a meeting of the state commission considering the reasons for postponing the first launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket and criticized the negligent approach to the work of the rocket industry.
During the preparation of the first launch from Vostochny, more than 20 comments were identified, the head of Roscosmos said.
On the evening of April 27, specialists replaced the instrument, which stopped the launch from Vostochny.
The State Commission made a decision on the second launch of the carrier rocket 4 hours before the planned launch.

How is a spaceport built?

On November 6, 2007, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the creation of the cosmodrome.
The spaceport has been under construction in the Amur Region since 2010. Its total area will be about 700 square meters. km. The administrative center is Tsiolkovsky.
All work on the construction of the first stage of the cosmodrome should be completed before the end of 2016.
Launch routes from the cosmodrome pass over Russian territory - sparsely populated areas of the Far East and water areas.
At the cosmodrome, the foundations will be laid for the second stage, which provides for the creation of a launch complex for launch vehicles of the Angara family.
The first stage of housing should be completed in the city of Tsiolkovsky, located next to Vostochny.

What scandals were associated with the construction?

In 2012, the first information appeared about delays in the payment of wages to workers of contractors for the construction of the cosmodrome, as well as a possible failure to meet construction deadlines.
In 2014-2015 against the former head of Dalspetsstroy, Yuri Khrizman, and the management of a number of construction contractors, criminal cases were initiated in connection with non-payment of salaries and failure to fulfill obligations.
In November 2015, the total damage from violations during the construction of the cosmodrome was estimated by law enforcement agencies at 5.4 billion rubles.
On March 17, 2016, the wage arrears to the builders of the cosmodrome amounted to 15 million rubles, the wage debt was repaid in the amount of 300 million rubles.
During the construction of the cosmodrome, 36 criminal cases were initiated on the fact of violations, of which 21 cases were based on the results of prosecutorial checks.

How are they planning to use the spaceport?

In June 2016, a program for the development of Russian spaceports for the next ten years will be adopted, where the first item will be the construction of an additional launch complex on Vostochny.
The second launch from Vostochny will take place in 2017. It is planned to launch two satellites of the Canopus series, as well as a Meteor-type apparatus.
In 2018, it is planned to hold at least five space launches.
From 2018, from Vostochny will be carried out from six to eight launches annually.
The first manned launch from the cosmodrome is scheduled for 2023: the Angara-A5V heavy rocket will launch a reusable spaceship"Federation".

What will the cosmodrome give to the region?

Vostochny will be the first national civil cosmodrome and will provide Russia with independent access to space (currently, manned launches take place from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan).
The choice of the Amur region for the construction of a new cosmodrome is due to its proximity to the southern latitudes, which facilitates the launch of spacecraft into orbit.
Eastern is needed to increase investment attractiveness, development and strengthening of the Far East region .
Vostochny is needed for the development of human resources for high-tech industries.
The spaceport will require the region to change the educational process, taking into account the new industry.

Historically, mankind has always looked closely at the sky and was interested in various celestial bodies. There are legends that allegedly the first people traveled into space in ancient times, but this has not been documented in any way. But the whole world experienced surprise and joy when, in 1961, Soviet officer Yuri Gagarin went into space and then returned to Earth.

The first launch of the Soviet spacecraft took place from a secret object called In this article, we will consider not only the named launch pad, but also other significant places.

Discoverer

"Research test site" - this was the name of the project approved by the General Staff of the USSR Ministry of Defense in 1955. Subsequently, this place became known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

This facility is located in the Kyzylorda region on the territory of Kazakhstan, not far from the village of Toretam. Its area is about 6,717 sq. km. And for many years, the first spaceport in the world has been considered one of the leaders in its industry in terms of the number of launches. So, for example, in 2015, 18 rockets were launched from it into Earth's orbit. The named test site for space launches is leased by Russia from Kazakhstan until 2050. About 6 billion Russian rubles a year are spent on the operation of the facility.

Privacy level

All spaceports of the world are star harbors, which are guarded in the most careful way, and Baikonur is no exception in this regard.

Thus, the construction of a space port was accompanied by the construction of a false cosmodrome near the village of Baikonur. This tactic was also used during World War II, when the military built false airfields with dummies of equipment.

Soldiers and officers of the construction battalion were directly involved in the construction of the spaceport. In short, they accomplished a real labor feat, because they were able to build a launch pad in two years.

Problems of today

Today is quite enough for the legendary cosmodrome. Hard times. The starting point for the emergence of problems can be considered 2009, when the military left it, and the object passed completely under the jurisdiction of Roskosmos. And all because, along with the military, the cosmodrome also lost a rather serious amount of money that was previously allocated for training and testing.

Of course, launching rockets with satellites also makes money, but these days it is not done as often as it used to be, when rockets took off almost every week. Nevertheless, the cosmodrome still remains a recognized world leader in the field of space launches.

Russian giant

But still, considering the spaceports of the world, it would be unfair not to pay attention to other similar objects, one of which is located on the territory Russian Federation. The technical capabilities and the money invested in its construction and development allow it to launch and put into earth orbit many satellites and space stations.

The Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian space harbor located 180 kilometers from Arkhangelsk. The dimensions of the object are 176,200 hectares.

The Plesetsk Cosmodrome in its essence is a rather complex scientific and technical complex, which is designed both for military tasks and for peaceful purposes.

The cosmodrome includes many objects:

Complexes for the launch of carrier rockets.
Technical complexes (carry out the preparation of rockets and other spacecraft).
Station refueling and neutralization multifunctional. With its help, launch vehicles and upper stages are fueled.
Almost 1500 buildings and structures.
237 objects that provide energy for the entire spaceport.

Far Eastern site

One of the newest spaceports in Russia is Vostochny, which is located near the city of Tsiolkovsky in the Amur Region (Far East). The harbor is used exclusively for civilian purposes.

The construction of the facility began in 2012 and was actively accompanied by various corruption scandals and strikes of workers due to non-payment of wages.

The first launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome took place relatively recently - on April 28, 2016. The launch made it possible to launch three artificial satellites into orbit. At the same time, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, as well as Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and head of the Kremlin administration Sergei Ivanov, were personally present at the site at the time of launching the carriers.

It should be noted that a successful launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome was carried out only on the second attempt. It was originally planned to launch the Soyuz 2.1A launch vehicle on April 27, but literally a minute and a half before the launch, the automatic system canceled it. The leadership of Roscosmos explained this incident by an emergency failure in the operation of the control system, as a result of which the launch was postponed for a day.

List of the main spaceports of the planet

The currently existing spaceports of the world are ranked by the date of their first orbital launch (or its attempt), as well as by the number of successful and failed launches. The list currently looks like this:

Baikonur.
Base Air Force USA at Cape Canaveral.
Vandenberg (United States of America).
Wallops.
Kapustin Yar (RF).
Hammagir (France).
Plesetsk (Russia).
Uchinoura (Japan).
San Marco (Italy).
Kennedy Space Center (USA).
Woomera (Australia).
Kourou (France, European Space Agency).
Jiuquan (China).
Tanegashima (Japan).
Satish Dhawan Space Center (India).
Xichang (China).
Taiyuan (China).
Palmachim (Israel).
Al-Anbar (Iraq).
Svobodny (Russia).
Alcantara (Brazil).
Musudan (North Korea).
"Sea Launch" (Russia, USA, Norway, Ukraine).
Kodiak (USA).
Reagan test site (USA).
Semnan (Iran).
Naro (South Korea).

American leader

Cape Canaveral (USA) has been used by the military since 1949. It was then that army engineers began their long-range experiments. The named place was chosen for a reason, since the cosmodrome is located very close to the equator, and this, in turn, makes it possible to use the force of rotation of our planet to accelerate the rocket. In 1957, the government of the country decided to launch a satellite called Vanguard TV3. Unfortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful (the rocket exploded).

Already in 1958, the NASA aerospace agency began to manage rocket launches. However, formally, the spaceport is still under the administration of the US Department of Defense. The Space Harbor consists of 38 launch sites, 4 of which are active.

French space avant-garde

The Guiana Space Center, often referred to as Kourou (French Guiana), is located in the northeast South America. The object was built on the coast Atlantic Ocean between two cities: Sinnamari and Kuru. The spaceport is jointly operated by the European Space Agency and the National Center

This launch pad first sent a rocket into space on April 9, 1968. It is important to note that the cosmodrome is located literally five hundred kilometers from the equatorial line, which allows the most efficient launch of aircraft on our Earth. Besides, geographical position space port is such that the launch angle is always equal to 102 degrees, and this indicator significantly expands the range of launch trajectories of objects used for various tasks.

The efficiency of the launch pad is so high that it attracted the attention of many corporate clients from many countries of the world: the USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil, India, Azerbaijan.

In 2015, it invested over 1.6 billion euros in the modernization of the infrastructure of the spaceport. The high level of security of the facility also deserves special attention. The Space Harbor is located in an area that is densely covered with equatorial forests. At the same time, the department itself is poorly populated. In addition, there is no risk of even the weakest earthquakes or hurricanes. To ensure maximum protection against an external attack, the 3rd Regiment of the Foreign Legion (France) is located at the spaceport.

A joint project

The launch platform "Odyssey" is, in fact, a huge self-propelled, semi-submersible catamaran. The facility was built in Norway on the basis of an oil platform. The composition of the described mobile spaceport includes:

starting table;
rocket installer;
refueling and oxidizer systems;
temperature control system;
nitrogen supply system;
cable mast.

The marine space launcher is serviced by a staff of 68 people. Living quarters, a medical center and a canteen were built for them.

The platform is based in the port of Long Beach, California (southwest USA). The industrial giant of the space industry arrived at this place of its permanent deployment on its own, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and Singapore.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to note that all the spaceports of the world that exist today allow mankind to actively develop and explore space. With the help of platforms for launching vehicles into Earth's orbit, many different civil and military actions are carried out.

Introduction

It is estimated that in the modern era, for every 10-15 years, the amount of scientific information at the disposal of mankind is approximately doubling. And this is not a simple statistical fact - this is the law of the progressive development of society. In order to successfully meet the diverse needs of mankind, science and technology must move forward at precisely this speed. But this requires a continuous increase in the volume of useful information about the phenomena of the world around us. To fulfill this condition, it is necessary not only to constantly deepen the usual "terrestrial" research, but also to expand in every possible way the area from which this information is drawn.

It took people thousands of years to find out what our Earth is and what position it occupies in the Universe. They worked for hundreds of years to lay the foundations of mechanics, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and this titanic work was not in vain. He paved the way for the astonishing leap forward that science has made over the past decades, the leap that has led to space flight.

To find answers to these questions, man turned to the Cosmos.

At first, the problem was solved with the help of passive observations of cosmic processes from the Earth. When the technical prerequisites for the implementation of space flights appeared, the direct assault on outer space began.

As is known, this assault was launched in 1954 with the beginning of the construction of the world's first Cosmodrome and the launch of the first Soviet artificial Earth satellite, and has been successfully developed ever since.

The breakthrough into space was the most important stage in the history of civilization, a stage that should have and is already having a huge impact on the development of science and technology. Fascinating prospects, unexplored possibilities have opened up before mankind.

The significance of the outstanding achievements of science lies not only in the fact that they make it possible to solve all sorts of practical problems, but, above all, in the fact that they make it possible to move forward at a faster pace.

1. General information about spaceports

.1 Purpose of the spaceport

earthly ways rockets end at spaceports. Here, rockets and spacecraft are assembled from separate parts, tested, prepared for launch, and finally sent into space. Spaceports usually occupy a fairly large area. The place for the construction of the cosmodrome is chosen taking into account many, often contradictory, conditions. The cosmodrome should be far enough away from large settlements, because the spent rocket stages fall to the ground shortly after launch.

Missile routes should not interfere with air communications, and at the same time, they should be laid so that they pass over all ground radio communication points. It is taken into account when choosing a place and climate. Strong winds, high humidity, sudden temperature changes can significantly complicate the work of the spaceport.

Each country decides these issues in accordance with its natural and other conditions. Therefore, say, the Soviet Baikonur cosmodrome is located in the semi-desert of Kazakhstan, the first French cosmodrome was built in the Sahara, the American one was built on the Florida peninsula, and the Italians created a floating cosmodrome off the coast of Kenya.

A cosmodrome is a specially equipped area, covering an area from several hundred square meters, as, for example, in the case of a marine complex, to several hundred square kilometers, with special structures and technological systems located on it, designed to assemble, test, prepare and launch rockets. carriers, spacecraft and interorbital stations.

A large modern cosmodrome includes launch, technical, landing, command and measurement complexes, research and testing units, bench bases, information and computer centers, command posts and, as a rule, a complex for pre-flight training and post-flight rehabilitation of cosmonauts. In addition, the cosmodrome should have a number of auxiliary facilities - an aerodrome, factories for the production of fuel components, thermal power plants, industrial and agricultural enterprises, railway and automobile communications, as well as fall fields for launch vehicle stages and elements of spacecraft and a residential city - an administrative center with medical, cultural, educational, sports, commercial and household and other institutions. The attendants of the cosmodrome can consist of several tens of thousands of people.

1.2 Structure and technologies of the spaceport

.2.1 Technical complex of the cosmodrome

The technical complex is a part of a specially equipped territory of the cosmodrome with buildings and structures located on it, equipped with special technological equipment and general technical systems. The equipment of the technical complex allows for the reception, assembly, testing and storage of rocket and space technology, as well as refueling spacecraft and upper stages with fuel components and compressed gases, their docking with launch vehicles and transportation of the assembled complex to the launch site.

In special wagons, elements of rocket and space technology from manufacturing plants are delivered to the assembly and test building of the technical complex, where they are unloaded using mobile and stationary unloading and loading facilities.

The assembly and test building (MIK) is the main element of the technical complex, equipped with two types of equipment: mechanical assembly and control and testing. MIK is a multi-span high-rise frame industrial structure with heavy-duty crane equipment. In the spans of the MIK, mechanical assembly equipment is located, as well as re-preservation, assembly and testing of rocket and space systems. Along the perimeter of the building there are various laboratories with control and testing equipment for autonomous and integrated testing of space technology.

The dimensions and equipment of the assembly and test buildings depend on the type of missiles (spacecraft) being assembled and tested. Modern MIC has impressive dimensions. For example, the MIC for the assembly and testing of the Energia launch vehicle is a four-span building 250 m long, 112 m wide and about 50 m high. There are laboratories on four floors along the perimeter of the building, occupying a total area of 48 thousand square meters. m. With vertical rocket assembly technology, the height of the MIK reaches 160 m.

In the MIK, the components of launch vehicles and spacecraft are subjected to external inspection, preliminary element-by-element tests and are submitted for assembly. As a rule, they are assembled on separate, unrelated production lines. With a high intensity of preparation and conduct of launches for the assembly and testing of launch vehicles and spacecraft, separate assembly and test buildings can be provided.

With the help of installation tools and crane equipment, space vehicles are assembled and submitted for pneumovacuum tests. Such tests are carried out in order to detect leaks in all hydraulic and gas pipelines and sealed compartments of launch vehicles and spacecraft. Electrical tests are carried out to determine the integrity of all electrical circuits and correct functioning of control systems and all elements with power supply.

Assembled and tested spacecraft is sent to the gas station to continue the cycle of preparation for launch. Filling station - an element of the technical complex, which is a complex of structures and technological systems and is intended for refueling upper stages and spacecraft with rocket fuel components, compressed gases, special liquids. There are storage facilities for fuel, oxidizer and compressed gases; systems for temperature control of components, evacuation, gas control, measurements, automated filling, neutralization of toxic vapors and liquids, fire extinguishing, communications, ventilation, etc. The gas station is a technological object of the spaceport, the most saturated with explosive, fire hazardous and toxic elements.

The docking of the assembled and tested launch vehicle with the fueled spacecraft is carried out in the same assembly and test building where they were assembled.

1.2.2 Cosmodrome launch complex

The launch complex is an integral part and the main technological facility of the cosmodrome, which is a specially equipped area equipped with technological and general technical systems. All this numerous and unique set of equipment provides transportation, installation of a launch vehicle with a spacecraft in the launch device, refueling with fuel components and compressed gases, pre-launch checks, preparation for launch and launch of the rocket and space complex.

The launch complex, as a rule, includes launch storage facilities for launch vehicles and spacecraft, transport and installation units (or stationary installers), launch facilities with launch devices, fueling systems for rocket fuel components, gas supply facilities, emergency rescue of service personnel and crew members. . In addition, the launch complex is equipped with auxiliary facilities and systems: refrigeration centers, autonomous power plants, communication centers, television and filming systems, roads and railways, etc.

The brain center of each launch complex is the command post. It processes all the collected information on the status and readiness of all technological and general technical launch systems, on-board equipment and assemblies of the launch vehicle and spacecraft, the condition and quantity of components of rocket fuels, gases and special liquids, as well as information on the readiness of all spaceport services (meteorological and topographic and geodetic support, rescue and search teams, logistic support groups, evacuation, etc.) for the upcoming work. It also houses the control, verification and test equipment for pre-launch preparation of the space complex.

Based on the results of processing constantly incoming telemetry information (up to several thousand parameters per second during complex tests), decisions are made and commands are issued to continue work on the technological schedule for launching the complex or adjust it.

The command post is usually a four- or five-story building underground, stuffed with electronics and tens of kilometers of cable. From here, the entire prelaunch preparation to launch and a command is issued to launch launch vehicles and spacecraft.

It should be emphasized that each of the facilities of the technical or launch complex can be equated to an industrial enterprise of medium size. For example, the liquid oxygen refueling system for the Energia launch vehicle includes:

· a system for receiving and storing liquid oxygen with a capacity of several thousand tons;

· system of supercooling and temperature control of liquid oxygen, providing cooling of the oxidizer by 6...8 °C below the boiling point and maintaining the set temperature with an accuracy of 0.5...1 °C;

· filling system with liquid oxygen, providing the supply of the component at a rate of 6...8 tons per minute;

· a system for vacuuming the thermal insulation of cryogenic tanks and pipelines up to 10" ~ 6 mm Hg;

· system of automatic continuous control of the gaseous environment;

· automatic fire and explosion warning system;

· automated control system for all technological operations;

· a system for monitoring the condition of stored and refilled oxygen, etc.

Thus, the launch complex can be compared with a large industrial complex, spread over tens of square kilometers and including two to three dozen large factories (workshops). And if we continue this comparison, then the main "production" of such a plant is the accident-free launch of the space complex at exactly the specified time.

1.2.3 Command and measurement complex of the cosmodrome

During the last period of preparation of the space complex at the launch and after launch, specialists from another important part of the cosmodrome, the command and measurement complex (CMC), which provide trajectory measurements of the movement of the launch vehicle with the spacecraft on the active leg of the flight, as well as receiving, processing and analysis of data on the operation of on-board systems, the complex as a whole, objective indicators of the condition of the astronauts.

In connection with the growth in the number of spacecraft constantly operating in orbits, the functions, structure, and technical equipment of the command-measuring complex have changed, which has recently been increasingly correctly called the ground-based automated control complex (NACU). This is a universal complex of ground, sea and air facilities and equipment for the exchange of command and software, telemetry and trajectory information with any type of spacecraft and control of the entire orbital constellation located in this moment in space.

The CMC of the cosmodrome includes launching measuring points and dozens of measuring points along the flight paths of space complexes; ballistic center, automatic systems for collecting, processing, transmitting and displaying information; information and computing centers; communication and teleexchange systems with astronauts. The composition of the command and measurement complex of the cosmodrome also includes cinema theodolite stations (points) designed for direct visual tracking and filming of the flight of the space complex at the initial stage.

All information received during a normal or emergency flight is processed in the computer center. The results of this processing are the main impartial document characterizing the flight and the source material for making a decision on a specific space object. In this regard, the information of the measuring complex is of the greatest value during flight design tests, when an "imperceptible" deviation of any parameter can lead to the failure of the entire program.

1.2.4 Spaceport landing complex

One of the main reasons for the high cost of space is the single use of launch vehicles and spacecraft. For example, the American rocket "Saturn-5", which provided the program of flights of spacecraft "Apollo" to the Moon, worth 280 million dollars. "used up" in a few minutes. In the late 1960s work began on the creation of reusable space vehicles. The most famous in this direction were orbital spacecraft of the "Shuttle" and "Buran" types.

The practical transition to reusable space vehicles will undoubtedly bring significant savings in the future. Well, in the beginning, like any new scientific and technical idea, reusable systems require billions of dollars to create their constituent elements, launch vehicles and spacecraft, space complexes in general, to build and equip special landing (or launch-and-landing) complexes .

The modern landing complex is part of a specially equipped territory of the cosmodrome with a complex of buildings and structures located on it, equipped with technological and general technical equipment. The landing complex is designed to receive spacecraft, vehicles, stages and elements of reusable launch vehicles. At the landing complex, a set of measures is also taken for post-flight prevention of descent objects and their preparation for transportation to a technical position.

Spaceports also include spacecraft landing sites. Of course, they are not as complex, grandiose and expensive as the landing complexes of reusable spacecraft, but nevertheless they are quite technically equipped and equipped in terms of engineering. These are quite large areas intended for regular landing of space objects or descent capsules with materials. Landing sites are selected, as a rule, in a flat, sparsely populated area without large water bodies.

The route of the landing site for several thousand kilometers is equipped with means of communication, observation, control and issuance of target designations on the trajectory of the descent of a space object to search and rescue services. The landing site must provide its own means of descent control, object detection and evacuation.

Landing complexes can also be conditionally called those areas of the Karaganda and Dzhezkazgan regions of Kazakhstan, where the first manned spacecraft of the Vostok and Voskhod types, numerous spacecraft of the Kosmos series, and various modifications of the Soyuz transport spacecraft landed.

In the United States, areas of the ocean are chosen as landing sites for spacecraft, which imposes its own characteristics on the design of the spacecraft and the means of its search and evacuation.

1.2.5 Ensuring the safety of work at the cosmodrome

The spaceport is a zone of increased danger. This is due to the toxicity of fuels, and high gas pressures in various containers and systems, and the fire and explosion hazard of cryogenic liquids and gases, and increased noise and vibration, and high electrical voltages, and radiation from antennas, etc.

In this regard, there is a system of measures at the cosmodrome to ensure the safety of ongoing work. Conventionally, these activities can be divided into four groups.

Measures included in the design solutions for the creation of the entire cosmodrome and its individual complexes. Buildings and structures are located at a safe distance from each other, their design provides for protection from the impact of a shock wave of a certain strength and full autonomy of life support for several days. If necessary, fire and explosion safety, tightness, soundproofing of premises are provided.

Measures included in the design of technological systems and units. These include the choice of the most durable and resistant to aggressive environment materials, the introduction of computer systems instead of pumping systems, the use of welded joints, high-speed elevators and special rescue equipment, equipping systems and structures with high-speed and effective means of monitoring, signaling and eliminating emergency processes, creating a rational and safe technologies of work in all areas.

Measures involving the creation and use of collective and individual means of protection. Special rescue systems for cosmonauts and launch team personnel, shelters and shelters, fire extinguishing equipment based on heavy armored vehicles are designed and built, individual skin and respiratory protection equipment is used when working with aggressive liquids and gases.

Organizational events. These include training for service personnel; monitoring compliance with security measures; creation of a system of admissions to facilities and technological systems, limiting the number of people involved in specific operations; timely notification of hazardous work; organization of evacuation of people from dangerous areas, etc.

Usually, when organizing and conducting any test work at spaceports, three or four safety zones are established, and depending on the nature and degree of risk, each zone establishes its own regime for access to work, and certain activities are carried out. So, for example, the SK-39 launch complex at the US Eastern Test Site for launches of the Saturn-5-Apollo rocket and space system is divided into four zones:

· zone directly in the area of the launch facility with a possible overpressure in the front of the shock wave in the event of a launch vehicle explosion at the start of about 10 atm and a noise level of 135 dB;

· safety zone with a noise level of 135 to 120 dB (approximately 2 km from the start);

· general purpose area with a noise level of less than 120 dB (approximately 5 km);

· industrial area with all auxiliary technical facilities (from 5 to 10 km).

During the launches of the Energia launch vehicle and the Energia-Buran reusable rocket and space complex (MRSC) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, four security zones were also established in the vicinity of the launch complex:

· a radius of two kilometers around the launcher. From this, the most dangerous zone, the evacuation of service personnel ended 12 hours before launch. All further technological operations for refueling, preparation for launch and the launch itself were carried out remotely from protected control bunkers;

· a radius of five kilometers around the launcher. Evacuation from here ended 8 hours before launch, simultaneously with the start of filling the launch vehicle with liquid hydrogen;

· with a radius of 8.5 km, was released 4 hours before the start;

· with a radius of 15 km, was subject to evacuation 3 hours before the start. Outside it, the safety of a person in an open area was guaranteed in the event of an explosion of a launch vehicle at the start.

In addition, during the launch of the MRSC of the Energia - Buran complex on November 15, 1988, a set of measures was taken to ensure safety on the launch and flight route of the complex.

Such are the general structure, tasks, composition of the technical and technological means of spaceports intended for launching launch vehicles with spacecraft on board.

Figure 1 - Main technical facilities of the cosmodrome

A, B, C - starting positions of the cosmodrome: D - technical position; 1 - cable filling tower; 2 - service tower; 3 - station for refueling space objects; 4 - assembly and testing building of space objects; 5 - vertical assembly building; 6 - compressor station; 7 - remote command post; 8 - storage and filling station of the oxidizer; 9 - receiver; 10 - pool with water of the fire extinguishing system; 11 - command post; 12 - gas deflector; 13 - gas outlet channel; 14 - starting system; 15 - tower for missile guidance devices in azimuth; 16 - caterpillar conveyor; 17 - radar station; 18 - shelter for calculation;

20 - storage and fuel filling station;

2. Characteristics of the main spaceports in the world

.1.1 Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan

This spaceport is rented by Russia from the Republic of Kazakhstan for about $100 million a year. The administrative center is the city of Baikonur (former Leninsk), the railway station Tyuratam.

The history of the world's first spaceport began with the Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of February 12, 1955. The first SC - for the R-7 intercontinental missile - was put into operation in 1957.

Spaceport area reaches 6,717 km 2. It includes the center, left and right flanks, as well as fall fields (Fig. 3). Until now, Baikonur has been and remains the only base that allows launching Russian manned spacecraft and launching large satellites and interplanetary stations into orbit. Approximately 40% of all spacecraft of the former USSR and Russia were launched from here.

Now Baikonur has nine launch complexes with fifteen launchers, 34 technical complexes, three filling stations for launch vehicles, spacecraft and upper stages (US), a nitrogen-oxygen plant with a total capacity of up to 300 tons of cryogenic products per day, and a measuring complex with a powerful computer center . This equipment makes it possible to launch heavy (Proton), medium (Zenith, Soyuz and Molniya) and light (Cyclone) class launch vehicles. Two more types of light-class missiles - Dnepr and Rokot - are launched from silo launchers.

All missiles are assembled and docked with the RB and spacecraft in a horizontal position. Preparation and launch of the Zenit, Cyclone, Dnepr and Rokot ILVs is carried out using high level automation, and for Zenith they were implemented using the “unmanned start” technology. Training type - mobile, except for the Dnepr launch vehicle, for which a fixed training method is used. The Soyuz and Proton launch vehicles are characterized by a significant number of "manual" operations.

According to an agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan from 2004, it is planned to create the Baiterek complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to launch the Angara-A5 heavy-class launch vehicle. The complex will be created by reconstructing the U CS S.

Figure 2 - Scheme of the Baikonur Cosmodrome

technical launch complex

Figure 3 shows the location of the main facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Among them:

Airport Extreme;

City of Leninsk;

Measuring complex "Vega";

Measuring complex "Saturn";

Oxygen-nitrogen plant;

Town of testers;

Launch complex LV "Proton";

Technical complex of LV Energia;

9 - technical complex OK "Buran<#"justify">2.1.2 Large spaceports in Russia

.1.2.1 Plesetsk Cosmodrome

The Plesetsk Cosmodrome (1st State Test Cosmodrome) is located 180 kilometers south of Arkhangelsk, not far from the Plesetskaya railway station of Severnaya railway. Situated on a plateau-like and slightly hilly plain, it covers an area of 1762 square kilometers, extending from north to south for 46 kilometers and from east to west for 82 kilometers with a center having geographical coordinates 63 degrees north latitude and 41 degrees east longitude.

It was founded in 1960 as the first domestic missile base for the R-7 and R-7A ICBMs (Angara facility). When choosing a location, first of all, the following were taken into account:

The reach of the territories of potential opponents; 2. the ability to conduct and control test launches to the district Kamchatka; 3. the need for special secrecy and secrecy.

As a cosmodrome, it has a complex geopolitical position and a branched structure (Fig. 4).

He has been conducting space activities since the launch of the Cosmos-112 spacecraft on March 17, 1966. It has stationary technical and launch complexes of all types of domestic light and medium-class launch vehicles. The construction of launch and technical complexes for the Angara launch vehicle is underway. Provides the bulk of space programs related to defense, national economic, scientific and commercial launches of unmanned spacecraft.

Figure 3 - Scheme of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome

2.1.2.2 Svobodny (Vostochny) Cosmodrome

This spaceport is located in the Amur region. (Svobodnensky district), ZATO pos. Uglegorsk, 50 km north of Svobodny, railway Art. Icy.

At the end of 1992, the Military Space Forces (now the Space Forces of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation) raised the question of the need to create and select the location of a new Russian cosmodrome before the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, since as a result of the collapse of the USSR, the Baikonur cosmodrome was outside Russian territory.

In accordance with the conclusions of the reconnaissance commission, by the directive of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation of November 30, 1993, the objects of military units and subunits of the division of the Strategic Missile Forces stationed here were transferred to the Military Space Forces, and the Main Center for Testing and Using Space Weapons was formed on their basis. On March 1, 1996, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, it was transformed into the "Second State Test Cosmodrome of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Svobodny)".

The Military Space Forces were tasked with preparing for the launch in 1996-1997. Light class launch vehicles "Rokot" and "Start", development of a draft design of the SK carriers of the heavy class "Angara". The first launch from Svobodny took place on March 4, 1997

However, for financial reasons, the plans were not implemented: only eight launches of the Start-1 light class launch vehicle (created at MIT on the basis of the technological backlog for Topol and Pioneer ballistic missiles) were made from the cosmodrome. In February 2007, the Svobodny cosmodrome was closed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

Taking into account a number of geopolitical circumstances, as well as the fact that five PC-18 silo launchers remained in Svobodny, reconnaissance surveys began in mid-2007 to select the site of a new civilian cosmodrome at Far East.

As a result, the choice fell on the area of Uglegorsk. By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 6, 2007, it was decided to create the Vostochny cosmodrome (Fig. 5).

The spaceport area without fall fields does not exceed 750 km 2. On the territory of Vostochny, it is planned to create a launch complex for launching medium-class launch vehicles with increased payload capacity and reusable rocket and space systems (MRKS) with a payload capacity of up to 40 tons or more - one complex with two launchers for each. According to some reports, the total number of SCs at the cosmodrome can reach seven. In the future, it is possible to launch heavy and super-heavy launch vehicles with a payload mass of 60-100 tons. Ground infrastructure will also include:

· Technical complexes of the launch vehicle and spacecraft, including the inter-flight maintenance complex of the MRKS.

· Training complexes for cosmonauts, search and rescue service and transport (aviation, road and rail) infrastructure.

· Refueling complex, including nitrogen-oxygen and hydrogen plants.

· Measuring complex.

· From the cosmodrome, launches into orbits with an inclination of 51 to 110 degrees are possible.

Figure 4 - Scheme of the Vostochny cosmodrome

2.1.2 Kourou Spaceport, France

Cosmodrome Kourou Kourou, officially known as the Guiana Space Center, is located in northeastern South America, in French Guiana. . The spaceport is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. , on a strip approximately 60 km long and 20 km wide between the towns of Kourou and Sinnamari , 50 km from the capital of French Guiana cayenne .

In 1964 The French government chose Kourou from 14 submitted projects for the location of the spaceport. Its construction France started in 1965 initiated by the French Space Agency (CNES). The first launch from the spaceport in Kourou was carried out on April 9 1968 .

In 1975 when the European Space Agency was formed (ESA), the French government invited ESA to use the Kourou spaceport for European space programs. ESA, considering the Kourou spaceport as its own constituent part, financed the modernization of the Kourou launch pads for the Arian spacecraft program (Figure 6). Currently, the main launch sites of the spaceport are the property of ESA.

Since then, ESA has continued to fund two-thirds of the spaceport's annual budget, which goes towards ongoing flight maintenance and keeping the spaceport up to date. ESA is also funding new projects at the spaceport, such as launch facilities and industrial plants, that are required to launch new launch vehicles such as the Vega. "or for the use of" Unions ".

Figure 5 - Scheme of the Kuru Cosmodrome

2.1.3 Taiyuan and Tanegashima launch sites

Taiyuan is located 300 km west of Beijing, northwest of Shanxi Province, near the city of Taiyuan. The main Chinese spaceport for launching "polar" satellites into orbits with an inclination of up to 99 degrees. It has SC for launching carriers CZ-4A, CZ-2C.

The mill is located in the south of China in the Sichuan province, at the foot of the Dalyangshan mountain range. The headquarters of the cosmodrome is located in Xichang. The main Chinese spaceport for launching "geostationary" satellites. Carrier launches CZ-2E, CZ-3 middle class. There are two launch complexes at the cosmodrome.

Figure 6- Scheme of the Tayuan landfill

Tanegashima is located on the island of the same name, 50 km south of about. Kyushu in Kagoshima Prefecture. The first space launch took place in 1975.

At present, from the only SC (the second one is mothballed), spacecraft are launched into geotransitional and polar (inclination from 30 to 99 degrees) orbits using H-2A and H-2V rockets. The rocket stages are assembled in the MIK in a vertical position, and are also taken out to the SC on a mobile conveyor.

Figure 7 - Scheme of the Tanegashima landfill

2.1.4 Woomera Proving Ground

The Woomera polygon is located in the south of the Australian mainland in a desert area near the city of Woomera (South Australia, 500 km northwest of Adelaide, 200 km south of Lake Eyre). Landfill area - 100,000 km2 .

Created in 1946 by the joint efforts of Great Britain and Australia as a center for testing controlled aircraft. On November 3, 1961, it was chosen as the first European spaceport and has been operating since 1967. Used by UK European organization on the creation of launch vehicles ELDO (European Launch Developing Organization, the predecessor of ESA), Australia.

It had four SCs, from which Black Knite high-altitude rockets and Black Arrow light carriers were launched (the first and only British launch vehicle, in the only successful space launch on October 28, 1971, the first English Prospero satellite was put into orbit), Redstone (November 29, 1967 into orbit launched the first Australian satellite WRESAT) and Europa-1 (there were no successful orbital launches).

The polygon has flight paths for launching satellites into orbit with an inclination of 82-84 °, but since July 1976, by decision of the Australian government, it has been closed as unprofitable (the equipment has been mothballed and partially sold to India).

Figure 8 - Scheme of the Woomera Cosmodrome

3. Estimated part

.1 Rocket mass and VTOL calculation

Required to withdraw artificial satellite Earth of mass m into a circular orbit with a height of 250 km. The available engine has a specific impulse m/s. Coefficient - this means that the mass of the structure is 10% of the mass of the fueled rocket (stage). Determine the mass of the launch vehicle .

First space velocity for the chosen orbit is 7759.4 m/s, to which is added the estimated loss from gravity of 600 m/s (this, as you can see, is less than the loss given in table 1, but the orbit to be reached is half as much) , the characteristic velocity is thus m/s (other losses can be neglected in the first approximation). With these parameters, the value Inequality (4), obviously, is not satisfied, therefore, under the given conditions, it is impossible to achieve the set goal with a single-stage rocket.

Calculation for a two-stage rocket.

m/c. This time

for the 2nd stage we get:

the total mass of the 1st stage is t;

the total mass of a two-stage rocket with a payload will be t.

Calculations are performed in a similar way for ?more steps. As a result, we get:

starting weight three-stage rocket will be t.

Four-stage - ie.

Five-speed - i.e.

This example shows how multi-stage is justified. in rocket science - at the same final speed, a rocket with a larger number of stages has a smaller mass.

Conclusion

In this term paper we examined the purpose, structure, technology, as well as the characteristics of the main spaceports in the world.

When considering the structure of cosmodromes, we analyzed such characteristics of the cosmodrome as the technical complex of the cosmodrome, the launch complex of the cosmodrome, the command and measurement complex of the cosmodrome, the landing complex of the cosmodrome, as well as ensuring the safety of work at the cosmodrome. We analyzed in detail each facility and service of the spaceports and reviewed the technical characteristics of the spaceports.

Considered the characteristics of the main spaceports in the world. There are more than two dozen spaceports in the world. All of them have a similar structure and differ only in the design details of the launch complexes. For the placement of spaceports at specific points earth's surface several factors influence. One of the most important is flight ballistics. The fact is that with minimal energy costs, a spacecraft (SC) is launched into orbit, the inclination

which corresponds geographical latitude spaceport. The most critical latitude of the cosmodrome is when launching into geostationary orbits lying in the plane of the equator. They host communication satellites and TV repeaters, that is, primarily commercial spacecraft. The spaceport for launching geostationary satellites should be located at lower latitudes.

In the design part, we calculated the masses for a two-stage rocket.

Calculation of masses for a two-stage rocket.

Divide in half the characteristic speed, which will be the characteristic speed for each of the stages of a two-stage rocket. m/s. This time , which satisfies the attainability criterion (4), and, substituting the values into formulas (3) and (2),

for the 2nd stage we get:

the total mass of the 2nd stage is t.

For the 1st stage, the total mass of the 2nd stage is added to the payload mass, and after the appropriate substitution we get:

It should be noted that these results are obtained under the assumption that the coefficient of structural perfection of the rocket remains constant, regardless of the number of stages. Closer examination shows that this is a strong simplification. The steps are interconnected by special sections - adapters - supporting structures, each of which must withstand the total weight of all subsequent steps, multiplied by the maximum overload value , which the rocket experiences in all flight segments, in which the adapter is part of the rocket. With an increase in the number of stages, their total mass decreases, while the number and total mass of adapters increase, which leads to a decrease in the coefficient, and, along with it, the positive effect of multistage . In modern rocket science practice, more than four stages, as a rule, are not done.

Such calculations are performed not only at the first design stage - when choosing a rocket layout option, but also at subsequent design stages, as the design is detailed, the Tsiolkovsky formula is constantly used in verification calculations, when the characteristic velocities are recalculated, taking into account the ratios of the initial and the final mass of the rocket (stage), specific characteristics of the propulsion system, clarification of speed losses after calculating the flight program on the active leg , etc., to control the rocket reaching the target speed.

Bibliography

1. Levantovsky V.I. Mechanics of space flight in an elementary presentation. - M.: Nauka, 1980.

News of cosmonautics. Monthly magazine.

Elyasberg P.E. Introduction to the theory of satellite flight.-M.: Nauka, 1965.

Balk M.B. Elements of space flight dynamics.-M.: Nauka, 1965.

Beletsky V.V. Essays on the motion of cosmic bodies. - M.: Nauka, 1972.

Fundamentals of the theory of spacecraft flight / Ed. Narimanova G.S.

Spacecraft Flight: Examples and Tasks: A Handbook / Yu.F. Avdeev, A.I. Belyaev, A.V.

Cosmonautics: encyclopedia / Editor-in-chief V.P. Glushko.-M.: Soviet encyclopedia, 1985.

Avdeev Yu.F. Space, ballistics, man. - M.: Soviet radio, 1978.

Application

Calculation of vertical rocket launch

Consider, using the Soyuz rocket as an example, the calculation of the vertical take-off of a rocket by calculating such values as 1- flight time, calculated by adding t 1to the previous value. M 1- the total mass of the rocket at the beginning of the iteration, taken from the data or from M 2previous iteration (line). V 1- rocket speed at the beginning, taken from the data or from V 2previous iteration. S 1- flight altitude. taken from the data or calculated by adding to the previous value of S 1speed V 1multiplied by dTime 1. F t1 - thrust at a given height (S 1). Calculated by subtracting from the thrust in vacuum the difference between the two thrusts multiplied by the percentage of surface air density (see density table below). F t1 = F t1v -(F t1v -F t1m ) *Ro. I 1- specific impulse at a given altitude (S 1). Calculated by subtracting from the pulse in vacuum the difference between the two pulses multiplied by the percentage of surface air density (see density table below). I 1= I 1v -(I 1v -I 1m ) *Ro. a 1- acceleration acquired by the rocket due to the engines. Calculated by dividing the thrust of the engines by the mass of the rocket. a 2- acceleration acquired by the rocket due to the action of gravitational forces. Calculated according to the law of universal gravitation.

The gravitational constant is multiplied by the mass of the planet and divided by the square of the distance from the rocket to the center of the planet: a 2= GravPost*M pl /(R pl +S 1)2. a 3- total acceleration, Calculated by adding the accelerations obtained from the engines and gravity a 3= a 1+ a 2. v 2- speed at the end of iteration. Calculated by adding the speed at the beginning of the iteration and the total acceleration multiplied by the time interval v 2=v 1+ a 3*t 1. M t - fuel consumption. It is calculated by multiplying the engine thrust by the time interval and dividing by the specific impulse: F t1 t 1/I 1. M 2- total mass of the rocket at the end of the iteration, Calculated by subtracting the fuel consumption from the mass of the rocket at the beginning of the iteration. M 2= M1 -M t .

Table 2 Initial data:

First stageEmpty stage weight M 1r , kg. Mass of fuel in stage M 1t , kg. Engine specific impulse at sea level I 1m , m/s Specific impulse of the engine in vacuum I 1v , m/s Engine thrust at sea level F t1m , kN Engine thrust in vacuum F t1v , kN Second stageTotal rocket weight M 0, kg. Time of one iteration t 1, sec. Iteration limit (from freezes) ItCnt 1,Mass of the planet (Earth) M pl , kg. Planet radius Rpl , km.

Table. Calculation of the vertical takeoff of a rocket

Dependence of air density on altitude. Table of the international camp. atm. (ISA)Altitude above sea level, kmDensity, kg/m 3Density, % of sea level .7%120.31725.4%130.27121.7%140.23118.5%150.19715.8%160.16913.5%170.14411.5%180.1239.8%190.1058.4%200.0907.2%210.0776.1%210.0776.1%520.0652% %240.0483.8%250.0413.3%300.0181.44%350.0080.67%400.0040.32%450.0020.16%500.0010.09%600.00030970.02477%700.000082850.006628%800.000018460.0014768%900.0000034180.00027344%1000.00000055500.00004440%1200.000000024400 .000001952%

Figure 10 - Graph of dependence of air density on altitude above sea level

On March 4, 1997, the first space launch took place from the new Russian cosmodrome Svobodny. It became the 20th cosmodrome in the world at that time. Now, the Vostochny cosmodrome is being built on the site of this launch pad, the commissioning of which is scheduled for 2018. Thus, Russia will already have 5 spaceports - more than China, but less than the United States. Today we will talk about the world's largest space sites.

Baikonur (Russia, Kazakhstan)

The oldest and largest to this day is Baikonur, opened in the steppes of Kazakhstan in 1957. Its area is 6717 sq. km. In the best years - the 60s - up to 40 launches per year were made on it. And there were 11 launch complexes. Over the entire period of the existence of the cosmodrome, more than 1300 launches were made from it.

According to this parameter, Baikonur is the leader in the world to this day. Every year, an average of two dozen rockets are launched into space here. Legally, the spaceport with all its infrastructure and vast territory belongs to Kazakhstan. And Russia leases it for $115 million a year. The lease is due to end in 2050.

However, even earlier, the majority of Russian launches should be transferred to the Vostochny cosmodrome currently under construction in the Amur Region.

US Air Force Base at Cape Canaveral (USA)

It has been in Florida since 1949. Initially, military aircraft were tested at the base, and later ballistic missile launches. It has been used as a test site for space launches since 1957. Without stopping military testing, in 1957, part of the launch pads was made available to NASA.

The first American satellites were launched here, and the first American astronauts - Alan Shepard and Virgil Grissom (suborbital flights along a ballistic trajectory) and John Glenn (orbital flight) - went into flight from here. After that, the manned flight program moved to the newly rebuilt Space Center, which was named after Kennedy in 1963 after the death of the president.

From that moment on, the base began to be used to launch unmanned spacecraft that delivered the necessary cargo to the astronauts into orbit, as well as sent automatic research stations to other planets and beyond. solar system.

Also, satellites, both civilian and military, have been launched and are being launched from Cape Canaverel. Due to the variety of problems solved on the basis of the tasks, 28 launch pads were built here. Currently, 4 are operational. Two more are maintained in working order in anticipation of the start of production of modern Boeing X-37 shuttles, which should "retire" the Delta, Atlas and Titan missiles.

Space Center. Kennedy (USA)

Created in Florida in 1962. Area - 557 sq. km. The number of employees is 14 thousand people. The complex is wholly owned by NASA. It was from here that all manned spacecraft started, starting with the flight in May 1962 of the fourth astronaut Scott Carpenter. Here the Apollo program was implemented, which culminated in the landing on the moon. From here all the American ships of reusable action - shuttles - flew away and returned here.

Now all the launch pads are in standby mode for new equipment. The last launch took place in 2011. However, the Center continues to work hard both on ISS flight control and on the development of new space programs.

Kourou (France, European Space Agency)

It is located in Guiana, an overseas department of France, located in the northeast of South America. The area is about 1200 sq. km. The Kourou spaceport was opened by the French space agency in 1968. Due to the small distance from the equator, it is possible to launch spacecraft from here with significant fuel savings, since the rocket is "pushed" by the large linear velocity of the Earth's rotation near the zero parallel.

In 1975, the French invited the European Space Agency (ESA) to use Kourou to carry out their programs. As a result, now France allocates 1/3 of the necessary funds for the maintenance and development of the cosmodrome, everything else lies with ESA. At the same time, ESA is the owner of three of the four launchers.

From here, the European nodes of the ISS and satellites go into space. Of the missiles, the Arian Euro-rocket produced in Toulouse prevails here. In total, more than 60 launches were made. At the same time, our Soyuz with commercial satellites launched five times from the cosmodrome.

Jiuquan (China)

China owns four spaceports. Two of them solve only military tasks, testing ballistic missiles, launching spy satellites, testing equipment for intercepting foreign space objects. Two have a dual purpose, ensuring not only the implementation of militaristic programs, but also the peaceful exploration of outer space.

The largest and oldest of them is the Jiuquan cosmodrome. Operates since 1958. It occupies an area of 2800 sq. km.

At first, Soviet specialists taught the Chinese "brothers forever" the intricacies of the military space "craft" on it. In 1960, the first short-range missile, a Soviet one, was launched from here. Soon, a Chinese-made rocket successfully launched, in the creation of which Soviet specialists also participated. After there was a break in friendly relations between countries, the activity of the cosmodrome stalled.

Only in 1970, the first Chinese satellite was successfully launched from the cosmodrome. 10 years later, the first intercontinental ballistic missile. And at the end of the century, the first descent spacecraft without a pilot went into space. In 2003, the first taikvonaut was in orbit.

Now 4 out of 7 launch pads are operating at the cosmodrome. 2 of them are reserved exclusively for the needs of the Ministry of Defense. Every year, 5-6 rockets are launched from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome.

Tanegashima Space Center (Japan)

Founded in 1969. Operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Located on the southeast coast of Tanegashima Island, in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture.

The first primitive satellite was launched into orbit in 1970. Since then, Japan, with its strong technological base in the field of electronics, has made great strides in building both efficient orbiting satellites and heleocentric research stations.

At the cosmodrome, two launch pads are reserved for launches of suborbital geophysical vehicles, two serve heavy rockets H-IIA and H-IIB. It is these rockets that deliver scientific equipment and necessary equipment to the ISS. Up to 5 launches are made annually.

Sea launch "Odysseus" (International)

This unique floating spaceport, based on an ocean platform, was put into operation in 1999. Due to the fact that the platform is based on the zero parallel, launches from it are the most energetically beneficial due to the use of the maximum linear velocity of the Earth at the equator. The activities of Odyssey are controlled by a consortium that includes Boeing, RSC Energia, the Ukrainian design bureau Yuzhnoye, the Ukrainian production company Yuzhmash, which produces Zenit missiles, and the Norwegian shipbuilding company Aker Kværner.

"Odyssey" consists of two sea vessels - a platform with a launcher and a vessel that plays the role of a mission control center.

The launch pad was formerly a Japanese oil platform that has been refurbished and refurbished. Its dimensions are: length 133 m, width 67 m, height 60 m, displacement 46 thousand tons.

Zenith rockets, which are used to launch commercial satellites, belong to the middle class. They are capable of launching more than 6 tons of payload into orbit.

During the existence of the floating cosmodrome, about 40 launches were made on it.

And all the rest

In addition to the listed spaceports, there are 17 more. All of them are considered active.

Some of them, having survived the "former glory", greatly reduced their activity, or even completely frozen. Some serve only the military space sector. There are also those that are intensively developing and, very likely, will become “trendsetters of space fashion” over time.

Here is a list of countries with spaceports and their number, including those listed in this article

Russia - 4;

China - 4;

Japan - 2;

Brazil - 1;

Israel - 1;

India - 1;

Iran - 1;

North Korea - 1;

Republic of Korea - 1;

In March 1997, the first space launch took place from the Russian Svobodny cosmodrome. It became the 20th cosmodrome in the world at that time. Now, the Vostochny cosmodrome is being built on the site of this launch pad, the commissioning of which is scheduled for 2018. Thus, Russia will already have 5 spaceports - more than China, but less than the United States. Below you will learn about the largest space sites in the world ...

Baikonur (Russia, Kazakhstan)

The oldest and largest to this day is Baikonur, opened in the steppes of Kazakhstan in 1957. Its area is 6717 sq. km. In the best years - the 60s - up to 40 launches per year were made on it. And there were 11 launch complexes. Over the entire period of the existence of the cosmodrome, more than 1300 launches were made from it.

However, even earlier, the majority of Russian launches should be transferred to the Vostochny cosmodrome currently under construction in the Amur Region.

US Air Force Base at Cape Canaveral (USA)

It has been in Florida since 1949. Initially, military aircraft were tested at the base, and later ballistic missile launches. It has been used as a test site for space launches since 1957. Without stopping military testing, in 1957, part of the launch pads was made available to NASA.

The first American satellites were launched here, the first American astronauts - Alan Shepard and Virgil Grissom (suborbital flights along a ballistic trajectory) and John Glenn (orbital flight) - went into flight from here. After that, the manned flight program moved to the newly rebuilt Space Center, which was named after Kennedy in 1963 after the death of the president.

From that moment on, the base began to be used to launch unmanned ships that delivered the necessary cargo to the astronauts into orbit, as well as sent automatic research stations to other planets and beyond the solar system.

Space Center. Kennedy (USA)

Created in Florida in 1962. Area - 557 sq. km. The number of employees is 14 thousand people. The complex is wholly owned by NASA. It was from here that all manned spacecraft started, starting with the flight in May 1962 of the fourth astronaut Scott Carpenter. Here the Apollo program was implemented, which culminated in the landing on the moon. From here all the American ships of reusable action - shuttles - flew away and returned here.

Kourou (France, European Space Agency)

It is located in Guiana, an overseas department of France, located in the northeast of South America. The area is about 1200 sq. km. The Kourou spaceport was opened by the French space agency in 1968. Due to the small distance from the equator, it is possible to launch spacecraft from here with significant fuel savings, since the rocket is "pushed" by the large linear velocity of the Earth's rotation near the zero parallel.

Jiuquan (China)

China owns four spaceports. Two of them solve only military tasks, testing ballistic missiles, launching spy satellites, testing equipment for intercepting foreign space objects. Two have a dual purpose, ensuring not only the implementation of militaristic programs, but also the peaceful exploration of outer space.

The largest and oldest of them is the Jiuquan cosmodrome. Operates since 1958. It occupies an area of 2800 sq. km.

At first, Soviet specialists taught the Chinese "brothers forever" the intricacies of the military space "craft" on it. In 1960, the first Soviet short-range missile was launched from here. Soon, a Chinese-made rocket successfully launched, in the creation of which Soviet specialists also participated. After there was a break in friendly relations between countries, the activity of the cosmodrome stalled.

Only in 1970, the first Chinese satellite was successfully launched from the cosmodrome. Ten years later, the first intercontinental ballistic missile was launched. And at the end of the century, the first descent spacecraft without a pilot went into space. In 2003, the first taikvonaut was in orbit.

Tanegashima Space Center (Japan)

Founded in 1969. Operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Located on the southeast coast of Tanegashima Island, in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Sea launch "Odysseus" (International)

This unique floating spaceport, based on an ocean platform, was put into operation in 1999. Due to the fact that the platform is based on the zero parallel, launches from it are the most energetically beneficial due to the use of the maximum linear velocity of the Earth at the equator. The activities of Odyssey are controlled by a consortium that includes Boeing, RSC Energia, the Ukrainian design bureau Yuzhnoye, the Ukrainian production company Yuzhmash, which produces Zenit missiles, and the Norwegian shipbuilding company Aker Kværner.

"Odyssey" consists of two sea vessels - a platform with a launcher and a vessel that plays the role of a mission control center.

The launch pad was formerly a Japanese oil platform that has been refurbished and refurbished. Its dimensions are: length 133 m, width 67 m, height 60 m, displacement 46 thousand tons.

Zenith rockets, which are used to launch commercial satellites, belong to the middle class. They are capable of launching more than 6 tons of payload into orbit.

During the existence of the floating cosmodrome, about 40 launches were made on it.

And all the rest