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Plesetsk cosmodrome: Russia's northernmost launch complex

50 years ago the first space launch was carried out from Plesetsk cosmodrome

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Rocket booster carrying the Interkosmos 21 satellite at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 1981

© Oleg Kuzmin/Fotokhronika TASS

One of eight Plesetsk launch facilities, 1996

© Sergei Metelitsa/ITAR-TASS

Rockets being prepared for transportation to the launching site at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 1996

Plesetsk launch pad, 1996

© Sergei Metelitsa/ITAR-TASS

Central control panel at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 1996

© Sergei Metelitsa/ITAR-TASS

Molnia booster rocket with a military satellite of the Kosmos-2351 series at Plesetsk cosmdrome, 1988

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

The launch of the Soyuz-5 carrier rocket, 1999

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

A Kosmos-3M rocket carrier with a satellite of the Kosmos series prepared for launch at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 2002

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

Soyuz-2 rocket delivered to the launching complex of the Plesetsk spaceport, 2004

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

Rokot launch vehicle at Plesetsk spaceport, 2005

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

Topol missile being transported to a launching pad at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 2005

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

The first and second stages of Soyuz-U carrier rocket at Plesetsk cosmodrome's technical complex, 2006

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

The Soyuz-2 carrier rocket with the Meridian telecommunication satellite on board seen in the technical complex at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 2006

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

Soyuz-2 carrier rocket with the Meridian telecommunication satellite on board

© Alexandr Babenko/ITAR-TASS

Soyuz 2 rocket carrying a Kosmos series military satellite being transported to the launch pad at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 2008

© Andrei Morgunov/ITAR-TASS

Soyuz U rocket carrying the military satellite Kosmos-2450 blasts off from the launch pad at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 2009

© Andrei Morgunov/ITAR-TASS

The first launch of Angara-A5 at Plesetsk cosmodrome, 2014

© Russia's Defense Ministry press service/TASS

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50 years ago, March 17, 1966 the first space launch was carried out from Plesetsk cosmodrome. Russia's Plesetsk spaceport is the northernmost cosmodrome in the world. It is located in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk. Plesetsk is used especially for military satellites placed into high inclination and polar orbits since the range for falling debris is clear to the north which is largely uninhabited Arctic and polar terrain.

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