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Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 90

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Site 90
Launch siteBaikonur Cosmodrome
OperatorRVSN
VKS
VKO
Total launches123
Launch pad(s)Two
Site 90/19 launch history
StatusInactive
Known launches22
First launch5 November 1963
UR-200
Last launch9 December 1997
Tsyklon-2 / Kosmos 2347
Associated
rockets
UR-200
Tsyklon-2A
Tsyklon-2
Site 90/20 launch history
StatusActive
Known launches27
First launch24 September 1964
UR-200
Last launch25 June 2006
Tsyklon-2 / Kosmos 2421
Associated
rockets
UR-200
Tsyklon-2A
Tsyklon-2

Site 90 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a launch complex consisting of two pads, which has been used by UR-200, Tsyklon-2A and Tsyklon-2 rockets. Built in the 1960s for the UR-200, which was first launched from the complex on 3 November 1963,[1] it was converted for use by Tsyklon rockets after further development of the UR-200 was cancelled. One pad is currently active, pending the final Tsyklon-2 launch which is expected to occur in 2012.

The two pads at the site are 90/19, which was the first to be used, and 90/20, which saw its first launch in September 1964. The last launch from Site 90/19 occurred on 9 December 1997, whilst 90/20 remains operational, its most recent launch having occurred in June 2006.[2] In total, the complex has been used for 123 launches as of March 2012. These launches consisted of nine UR-200,[3] eight Tsyklon-2A,[4] and 106 Tsyklon-2 rockets.[2] There is no data on which of the two pads was used for 74 of the Tsyklon-2 launches known to have originated from the complex, however it is known that twenty two launches, including six UR-200s and five Tsyklon-2As, occurred from Site 90/19, and 27 launches, including three UR-200s and three Tsyklon-2As, occurred from pad 90/20.[1][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "UR-200". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "R-36". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  3. ^ Wade, Mark. "UR-200". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on May 2, 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  4. ^ Wade, Mark. "Tsiklon-2A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2012.