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Plesetsk 
Plesetsk began as the world's first operational intercontinental ballistic missile base. At the end of the 1950s four massive R-7 integrated launch complexes were built there for the famous Semyorka launcher that later became Soyuz. In the early 1960s future space plans indicated the need for a launch site that could reach militarily useful polar orbits inaccessible from Baikonur. The job of selecting a site for a northern cosmodrome began at the beginning of 1962. At the end of that year Plesetsk was selected and on 2 January 1963 Plesetsk was made a cosmodrome by Presidential decree.
The Yemtsa river borders the cosmodrome on one side near to a launch area consisting of four launch complexes for Soyuz and Molniya launch vehicles, similar to the R-7 Semyorka launch facilities at Baikonur. The satellite payloads for the launchers are prepared and integrated in Mirniy. On the other side of the cosmodrome is the Kosmos-3 Voskhod launch complex, two Chusovaya launch complexes for Kosmos-3M and, until 1974, the Raduga launch complex for the Kosmos-2M. The cosmodrome also contains a nitrogen-oxygen plant, guidance stations, a work management centre, tracking stations, the railroad yard and a communications centre, as well as living areas for the launch service staff. Thanks to good initial planning, the cosmodrome is very functional. Mirniy is a planned city in the taiga forest, with decent housing, excellent sports and recreation complexes, restaurants, cinemas, officer's clubs, a cultural centre and an orthodox church. There is also a store and market, a hotel, playgrounds and parks. The city is served by Pero Airport. In 1966 Mirniy obtained city status. The population has now reached 80 000, most of them military staff and their families.
Last update: 5 October 2004
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