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International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: Satori on 04/07/2006 09:37 pm

Title: The Tsiklon pads are secret!!!!!!
Post by: Satori on 04/07/2006 09:37 pm

I've just been at the Baykonur Cosmodrome and I have a funny story with the securoty guy that was with the group. At some point I've asked to the interpreter about the Tsyklon launch pad at the Cosmodrome. The interpreter asked the security guy about the pads (translating my question) and the guy just looked at the back of the van and asked "What?! Who asked that?! The Tsikon pads are secret!!!!!" :)

Title: RE: The Tsiklon pads are secret!!!!!!
Post by: Chris Bergin on 04/08/2006 02:25 am

heh, nice story :)

Welcome to the site!

Title: RE: The Tsiklon pads are secret!!!!!!
Post by: anik on 04/08/2006 11:02 am

There are two launch pads (left No. 19 and right No. 20) for Tsiklon-2 rocket in area 90 on Baikonur cosmodrome...

Left launch pad is not used since 1988-1989... Right launch pad (see photos below, which were made in October 2004) is preparing for Tsiklon-2K rocket now...

Title: RE: The Tsiklon pads are secret!!!!!!
Post by: sammie on 04/08/2006 12:02 pm

Thanks for the pictures. Its indeed strange that the launch pads are secret, since there are few if any launches planned for the Tsyklon from Biakonur.
Now thats a great example of what I call simple launch Infrastructure! Launch vehicles supplied and erected by trains, no fire pit and no obvious clamps. Makes me wonder why it takes such a long time for the launch pad to be developed in Brazil :)

Title: RE: The Tsiklon pads are secret!!!!!!
Post by: Jester on 04/09/2006 11:31 am

And thats not all, in general the Russian sec. guys and "twitchy" when you start asking questions about certain launch pads, however, vodka and speaking some russian does help ;)