A BRIEF-HISTORY OF BAIKONUR

The Baikonur launch site was the world's first and remains its most im portant in terms of the historic missions that have taken off from it. This article describes the background to the construction of Baikonur , the steps taken to keep it secret from the West, and its chief facil ities. It enumerates the major space missions that took place there, a s well as acknowledging its failures, e.g. the lunar programmes, befor e speculating on its future. An increasing emphasis on commercial laun ches seems likely.