Russia may leave Baikonur because of the war in Ukraine – #Russia #leave #Baikonur #war #Ukraine
Because of the war started in Ukraine, Moscow Soviet and Russia may leave the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, which is closely related to the history and modernity of cosmonautics.
Starting from the 90s, Baykodrom began to move away from Russia. Although the lease agreement with Kazakhstan is valid until 2050, Russia’s participation in Baikonur is being reduced step by step.
Fewer and fewer launch complexes are used, and the question of what will happen next is becoming more and more relevant.
At the beginning of 2023, the issue of sharing the cosmodrome became acute again. Kazakhstan is the property of Russia imprisonment left and 2 billion requires rubles, Russia and puts forward its counterclaim of 220 million dollars.
According to the agreement signed between the two countries in 1994, the Baikonur cosmodrome with all launch equipment became the property of Kazakhstan.
After this Russia 115 million with all the territory and infrastructure needed for space activities dollars rents by paying.
From Baikonur, Russia national programs, including military uses for releases and international projects.
Baikonur “Roscosmos”also plays an important role in the commercial activity of flour. Only with external satellites “Proton” Thanks to the launch of missiles, Russia in the last 25 years approx 10 billion dollars won.
Kazakhstan is not satisfied with the fact that Russia actively uses the cosmodrome to earn money, but pays a fixed cost. Moreover, the Proton rocket, which brings more revenue to Roskosmos, pollutes Kazakhstan’s environment with its toxic fuel.
This issue has led to crisis situations between the two countries, up to the imposition of a temporary ban on missile launches.
In order to maintain the possibilities of using the cosmodrome and reduce interstate tensions, the space administrations of the two countries jointly developed the “Baiterek” project.
Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has greatly strained the country’s external economic situation. From the Russian side “Baiterek” JVpartner of “Khrunichev Center” and “Soyuz-5″developer and manufacturer of “RCC Progress” directly under sanctions.
All Western customers of Russian missiles and other countries “Roscosmos”turned away from Under such conditions, the economic prospects of “Baiterek” have become more complicated.
The current status of the project is uncertain: Kazakhstan is awaiting a new feasibility study, which depends on future participation in the project.
From the Russian side “Soyuz-5”developers are in a difficult situation, even where to launch the newly developed rocket is a problem. Although the “Sea Launch” mobile cosmodrome was handed over to Russia, it also requires modernization, which is several times more expensive than “Baiterek”. The development of the super heavy carrier has also been postponed indefinitely.
Today, Baikonur has only two Russian rocket launch complexes, Soyuz-2 and Proton.
Russia can completely leave Baikonur in 2028.
The article notes that a number of factors can maintain the presence of “Roscosmos” in Kazakhstan.