This is the third anniversary of MOST's successful launch into orbit, one day before Canada Day - an early birthday gift to the country. It's a gift that keeps on giving. MOST was originally planned as a one-year mission to monitor about a dozen stars. After three years in space, we have collected data on about 400 stars, unlike any observations that have ever been obtained by astronomers. And the exploration continues.

Khrunichev Space R&D Center - © 2000-2008 Vic Stathopoulos

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Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
18, Novozavodskaya St., 121087 Moscow, RUSSIA
Phone: + 7 ( 495) 145 - 8343
Fax: +7 (495) 142 – 5900 

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center

In 1962, the Soviet government approved the program of construction of the launch complex for the UR-500 (Proton) rocket located on the western edge of Baikonur Cosmodrome. The original complex included two launch pads, but total four Proton launch pads have been built here. Baikonur has always remained the only location from which the Protons could be launched.

During 2004, Russian and Kazakh officials discussed the possiblity of building a launch complex for the Angara rocket in Baikonur. A formal agreement between two governments on the construction of the complex dubbed Baiterek was reached on December 22, 2004. The complex would use the former launch pad for the Proton rocket at Site 200.

Proton Rocket Facilities in Baikonur

April 04, 2008

The head of the Russian Space Agency Anatoly Perminov told this to reporters in Moscow on Saturday. The Baikonur Cosmodrome is leased by the Kazakh government to Russia till 2050. The Baiterek (or poplar tree) space launch complex is intended to facilitate operations on the Russian Angara-5 heavy rocket launcher that is currently under development at the Moscow-based Khrunishev State Space Scientific Production center. The center is known for manufacturing a family of carrier vehicles on the basis of universal rocket module. The Baiterek program is the major international project in space industry in the former Soviet Republics.

Astana, Kazakhstan (SPX) Oct 06, 2005

Today during the sitting of the Committee for International Affairs, Defense and Security the deputies have studied and recommended to pass the draft law on ratification of the Kazakhstan-Russia Agreement on Creation of Baiterek Space Complex at the spaceport Baikonur.

Minister of Education and Science Byrganym Aitimova reminded the agreement was signed in December, 2004.

The space project Baiterek is to be realized by the joint Russian-Kazakhstan enterprise set up in March, this year. As per the foundation agreement, the new Kazakhstani-Russian enterprise will equally belong to both sides, the headquarters being located in Astana.

"In accordance with the Agreement the Government of Kazakhstan is obliged to allot a budget credit of USD 225 million for the period of 19 years to the Baiterek joint enterprise", the Minister said. "The ratification procedure should be quickened so that these means were laid in the budget of 2006."

The construction of the rocket space complex is designed to be over in four years, the Minister reported.