"Gagarin’s Launch: The World’s First Space Launch Site"
By April 1957, the Baikonur Cosmodrome had completed preparations for the historic "Site No. 1." This unique and highly complex technical marvel rose from the Kazakh steppes in under a year—a feat of engineering unmatched by any subsequent launch site at Baikonur.
"It will bring good fortune," declared the visionary chief designer, Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, when an extraordinary discovery was made during construction. Beneath the site, buried 35 meters deep, lay an ancient treasure—a serendipitous omen for the cosmic ambitions unfolding above.
In May 1957, the R-7 rocket embarked on its maiden flight from this platform. Just four years later, in 1961, Yuri Gagarin ascended into the heavens, making history as the first human in space. His monumental journey bestowed upon the site its now iconic name: Gagarin’s Launch. Over the decades, this legendary platform has been the cradle of 519 launches, a testament to its enduring significance.
Since 2019, Launch Pad No. 5 at Gagarin’s Launch, long associated with the Soyuz rocket family, has been in a state of preservation. Yet, the spirit of exploration remains unyielding. Today, Roscosmos is championing efforts to enshrine Gagarin’s Launch as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plans are underway to transform this storied location into a grand museum complex, preserving its legacy for future generations and celebrating humanity's indomitable quest for the stars.
