Space center. Other ways Baykonur is known is Baikonur, Leninsk, or Tyuratam.
Baykonur has long been known as a place upon where the Soviets heroes left this earth and became the first in space. It is from this launching point in central Kazakstan that Sputnik was launched in October 4, 1957. It is also from here that the first person to orbit the earth, Yuri Gagarin, started the Space Race with the United States. Baykonur has been the foundation of the Soviet space program. While there were two other launching pads, Plesetsk Northern Russia and Kasputin Central Russia, this was the primary launching point for manned missions.
Currently, Russia has agreed to lease Baykonur from the independent country of Kazakstan for 20 years at 115 million in annual rent. 5. Atyrai -