Baikonur cosmodrome

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 528.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome, amid semi-desert about 250 km north-west of Kyzylorda, has been the launch for all Soviet and Russian crewed space flights since Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, was sent up in 1961. In fact, the launch site isn't really in Baikonur, which is actually a town 300 km to the north-east, but the USSR told the International Aeronautical Federation that Gagarin's launch-point was Baikonur, and that name has stuck. The nearest town is the Russian military town of Leninsk on the Syr-Darya, south of the Cosmodrome, which it was built to guard and service. The train station just north of Leninsk is called Toretam. A space tracking station is visible to 2 to 3 km north of the station; the launch site is about 300 km. father north.

After the collapse of the USSR, the Cosmodrome became a useful card in Kazakhstan's dealing with Russia; which inherited the Soviet space program. While Russia insisted that the cosmodrome and its associated military forces were its own, Kazakhstan wanted them under joint control. A shortage of funds led to a number of space projects being suspended, falling living standards in the support towns, and riots by Kazakh soldiers there in 1992 and 1993. Many Russians and Ukrainians left. In 1994 Kazakhstan agreed to lease Baikonur and Leninsk to Russia for 20 years for about 120 million dollars a year. A few months later the Kazakh cosmonaut Talgat Musabaev and the Russian Yuri Malenchenko took off a symbolic joint visit to the Mir space station.

Vocabulary:

amid – среди

semidesert – полупустыня

launch site – запускать участок

collapse – крушение

inherited – унаследованный

under joint control – под контролем

shortage of funds – сокращение денежного фонда

riots – бунт, мятеж

to tease – арендовать

official currency – официальное денежное обращение

Ø Correct the sentences:

1. The Baikonur Cosmodrome is situated to the south of Kyzylorda at the distance of about 200 km.

2. Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, was sent up in 1964.

3. The nearest town is the Russian cultural and industrial town of Leninsk.

4. Leninsk was built to produce products and food for people of Kazakhstan.

5. American dollars are the official currency in Baikonur.

6. This area is open for holidaymakers.

7. You will set into a lot of trouble if you do not visit Baikonur.

Ø Fill in the crossword. Answer the questions in one word.

1. What is the best place for getting a permition to visit Baikonur? (Embassy )

2. Who was the first spaceman lobbed up in Baykonur in 1961?

3. What town is the Cosmodrome near by? (Kyzylorda)

4. The nearest town to Baikonyr. (Leninsk)

5. After what event did the Cosmodrome become a useful card in Kazakhstan's dealing with Russia? (Collapse)

6. What kind of shortage led to a number of space projects being suspended? (Funds)

7. Who of the Kazak cosmonauts took off on a symbolic joint visit to the Mir space station? (Musabaev)

8. The nearest station to Baykonur. (Toretam)