President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about upcoming changes and prospects for the development of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in an interview with the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, Toppress.kz correspondent reports.
In his words, Kazakh-Russian cooperation in space and joint development of Baikonur is a clear example of multifaceted bilateral cooperation.
The functioning and effective development of the Cosmodrome are considered by the Intergovernmental Commission. Priority is given to the creation of civil spacecrafts used in the fields of communications, television, and scientific research. We are collaborating on the Gagarin Start project. Investors from Kazakhstan, Russia and the UAE intend to invest in the modernization of this historic site, from which the first manned space flight took place. The goal of the Baiterek joint project is to create a rocket launch site for environmentally friendly carriers instead of the Proton rocket that uses toxic fuel, he said.
President Tokayev touched upon the initiative of Kazakhstan to create a free economic zone Baikonur, which can make a significant contribution to the development of the two countries’ economies.
In October this year, the Cosmodrome will celebrate its 65th anniversary. I believe we should celebrate this important date in a decent manner, as it is the province of all mankind and its historical role in the international space exploration is undeniable, he concluded.
