Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 9
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Kazakhstan will increase control over the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakh Space Agency head Talgat Musabayev told Russian newspaper Izvestia in an interview.
The changes are part of the roadmap for joint operation of the Baikonur Cosmodrome for 2014-2016 signed by Kazakhstan and Russia in late December 2013.
"The changes will touch upon the launch complex for Zenit rocket carriers and the city of Baikonur. In fact, we agreed on their joint use and maintenance," Musabayev said.
In particular the parties agreed that the space-rocket complex Baiterek will be implemented using the Zenit carrier.
Russia will get out of the Baiterek Complex lease and the complex will be handed over to Kazakhstan by January 2015. Kazakhstan will assume its maintenance costs of about $ 10 million. Meanwhile, both countries will operate the complex jointly since Kazakhstan doesn't have enough experience to do it on its own. The parties plan to upgrade the Zenit rocket carrier, to create a new missile based on it which will be able to replace the Proton carrier in the future, Musabayev said. Russia and Kazakhstan also agreed to work on creation of new joint light missile for Baikonur.
Kazakh laws will be in force in the city of Baikonur as of today.
"The changes will mainly touch upon Kazakh citizens. The city will have more Kazakh authorities' bodies which will provide public services under Kazakh law," Kazakh Space Agency head said.
In particular Kazakh education system will be introduced here.
Kazakhstan will participate in the development of infrastructure in the city of Baikonur, including funding social facilities. Kazakhstan cellular companies will enter the city.
The parties also agreed to develop business in the city.
Meanwhile the road map will not affect the leasing agreement, according to Musabayev.
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility, located in Kazakhstan's desert steppes. It is being leased by the Kazakh government to Russia until 2050 and is managed jointly by the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Russian Space Forces.
Under the current Russian space program, Baikonur remains a busy space port with numerous commercial, military and scientific missions being launched annually.
Edited by CN