Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has praised the Baikonur Cosmodrome as a prime example of the long-term, mutually beneficial partnership between Kazakhstan and Russia. In a statement marking the 70th anniversary of the facility, celebrated on June 2, Tokayev also expressed Kazakhstan’s ambition to turn Baikonur into a hub for global cooperation in space exploration.
“Kazakhstan is an active participant in international space efforts. Baikonur stands as a clear symbol of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Russia, built on friendship, good neighborly relations, and shared interests,” Tokayev said in his message, which was published by the presidential press service.
He highlighted the country’s achievements in space over recent decades, stating, “We aim to transform Baikonur into a center for international collaboration, scientific exchange, education, and even tourism.”
Tokayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s pride in hosting the world’s largest spaceport. “This is where, in 1957, the first artificial satellite was launched, marking the dawn of the space age. Just a few years later, in 1961, Yuri Gagarin began his historic journey into space from here. And it was from Baikonur that our own heroes—Toktar Aubakirov, Talgat Musabayev, and Aidyn Aimbetov—also launched into orbit,” he recalled.
The president also expressed gratitude to the residents of Baikonur for preserving the legacy of early space exploration. “Space has always united humanity and driven scientific and technological progress. I’m confident Baikonur will continue to be a launchpad for groundbreaking discoveries and next-generation innovations,” he concluded.
Baikonur Cosmodrome and the city of the same name were officially established on June 2, 1955. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia leased the facility from Kazakhstan in 1994, with the current lease agreement extended through 2050.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS