As a result, Russia will receive a backup launcher, and Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates will be able to launch spacecraft into orbit
NUR-SULTAN, April 12. /TASS/. Kazakhstan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates plan to conduct at least four commercial launches from the first launch pad of the Baikonur cosmodrome ("Gagarin Launch") annually. This was reported to TASS on Monday by the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan.
"The Gagarin Launch project involves the creation of a trilateral joint venture for the modernization and management of launch pad No. 1 at the Baikonur cosmodrome - Gagarin Launch and servicing the launch of Soyuz-2 launch vehicles. Modernization of the launch pad will allow launching all the Soyuz-2 missiles. It is projected to carry out at least four commercial launches per year, " the agency said in response to an official request.
The project will be funded by the three participating countries in equal shares. As a result of the modernization, Russia will receive a backup launcher, and Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates will be able to launch spacecraft into orbit.
Earlier, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan reported that the total cost of the Gagarin Launch modernization project will amount to $ 87 million - $ 29 million from each of the three parties. The reconstruction will consist of replacing analog systems with digital ones, outdated technological equipment with modern ones, and carrying out construction and installation works. Prior to the planned upgrade, the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle was launched from the launch pad, and after the upgrade, it is planned to launch the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle and its modified versions.
Pad # 1 ("Gagarin Launch") is the oldest launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome, from which the Vostok spacecraft set off on April 12, 1961, with the world's first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on board.
