THE R-7 LAUNCH PAD
The image above depicts the test pad for Russia's first ICBM, the Korolyov R-7 (SS-6 SAPWOOD). The R-7 began testing from this location at Baikonur in 1957 and became Russia's first operational ICBM in February of 1959. The large size and restrictive handling procedures of the weapon precluded its widespread deployment, but it was an important stepping stone in the development of Russia's strategic nuclear arsenal, and a historically significant weapon system as it was the first operational ICBM anywhere in the world. It was also a very significant rocket outside of the nuclear arena, being the first space launch vehicle (SLV) to orbit a satellite (Sputnik) and the only SLV to launch Cosmonauts into space (Energia, Buran's booster, never launched a manned Buran). Derivatives of the original R-7 are still in use today as heavy-lift SLVs.
Forthcoming articles posted on IMINT & Analysis will detail Russia's space launch sites, ICBM testing grounds, and historical and current ICBM launch facilities.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
Feel free to discuss the current Image of the Week at the IMINT & Analysis Forum Image of the Week discussion thread found here.
SOURCES
-Overhead imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth
The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword, Steven Zaloga, 2002
The image above depicts the test pad for Russia's first ICBM, the Korolyov R-7 (SS-6 SAPWOOD). The R-7 began testing from this location at Baikonur in 1957 and became Russia's first operational ICBM in February of 1959. The large size and restrictive handling procedures of the weapon precluded its widespread deployment, but it was an important stepping stone in the development of Russia's strategic nuclear arsenal, and a historically significant weapon system as it was the first operational ICBM anywhere in the world. It was also a very significant rocket outside of the nuclear arena, being the first space launch vehicle (SLV) to orbit a satellite (Sputnik) and the only SLV to launch Cosmonauts into space (Energia, Buran's booster, never launched a manned Buran). Derivatives of the original R-7 are still in use today as heavy-lift SLVs.Forthcoming articles posted on IMINT & Analysis will detail Russia's space launch sites, ICBM testing grounds, and historical and current ICBM launch facilities.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
Feel free to discuss the current Image of the Week at the IMINT & Analysis Forum Image of the Week discussion thread found here.
SOURCES
-Overhead imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth
The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword, Steven Zaloga, 2002
4 comments:
Hi,
There is number of old photos related to R-7
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mai.ru/colleges/war/ballist/books/Chertok-RocketsandPeople3/foto/11.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mai.ru/colleges/war/ballist/books/Chertok-RocketsandPeople3/text/36.htm&usg=__A6qtqk8au-BW3yHDzJna2lp7m3Y=&h=336&w=300&sz=9&hl=ru&start=1&um=1&tbnid=FVUQOOYnXf2_tM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%25D1%2584%25D0%25BE%25D1%2582%25D0%25BE%2B%25D1%2580%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B5%25D1%2582%25D1%258B%2B%25D1%2580-7%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dru%26lr%3D%26sa%3DX
The full collection available using this Google search
http://images.google.com/images?hl=ru&q=%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE+%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%8B+%D1%80-7&lr=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title
If you have an interest I can translate or explain some of them.
Best Wishes
Interesting article, about Buran there is more informations on this site.
actually there are two launch facilities: why only one mentioned?
Launch Pad #1 - is a main working pad aka Gagarin's Pad.
Launch Pad #2 is a assembling and testing pad. It can be used for launches but never used for that.
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