View source for Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 250

{{Infobox launch pad
| name        = Site 250
| site        =[[Baikonur Cosmodrome]]
| location    = {{coord|46.0083|N|63.3049|E}} 
| operator    = 
| inclination =
| paddetails  = 
  {{Infobox launch pad/pad
  | status      = Inactive
  | launches    = 1
  | first       = 15 May 1987
  | last        = 15 May 1987
  | rockets     = [[Energia]]<br>[[Angara (rocket)|Angara]] (future) }}
}}
'''Site 250''' at the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], also known as '''UKSS''' ({{lang-ru|''Универсальный Комплекс Стенд-Старт''}}, ''Universal Complex Stand-Start'') and '''Bayterek''' ({{lang-ru|''Байтерек''}}), is a test facility and launch site which was used by the [[Energia]] rocket during the 1980s. The site consists of a single launch pad, which doubled as a test stand, and is supported by an engineering area and a propellant storage facility. {{As of|2011}} the complex was planned to be rebuilt as the ''Bayterek Launch Complex'', which would be used by the [[Angara (rocket)|Angara]] rocket from 2015; however development is yet to begin.

Today the UKSS at Site 250 is still standing, however it is deteriorating. Construction work for Bayterek is yet to begin.<ref name="RSW"/>

==Energia==
Site 250 was built in the late 1970s as the ''Universal Complex Stand-Start'' (UKSS) to support Energia development, and unlike other Soviet launch complexes it was designed to support long-duration static tests as well as launches, after [[Valentin Glushko]] blamed the failure of the [[N1 (rocket)|N1]] programme on the lack of facilities to perform static tests.<ref name="RSW">{{cite web|url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_energia_250.html |title=Baikonur: Energia-Buran Facilities: Site 250 |first=Anatoly |last=Zak |work=RussianSpaceWeb |accessdate=5 July 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903023615/http://www.russianspaceweb.com:80/baikonur_energia_250.html |archivedate=3 September 2011 |df= }}</ref> The only launch to have taken place from Site 250 was the maiden flight of the Energia rocket, carrying the [[Polyus (spacecraft)|Polyus]] spacecraft, which occurred on 15 May 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/bailc250.htm|title=Baikonur LC250|first=Mark|last=Wade|work=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=5 July 2011}}</ref> Energia was abandoned after just two launches, the other of which took place from [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 110|Site 110]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wade |first=Mark |title=Energia |url=http://www.astronautix.com/fam/energia.htm |work=Encyclopedia Astronautica |accessdate=5 July 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011011357/http://astronautix.com/fam/energia.htm |archivedate=11 October 2011 |df= }}</ref>

==Angara==
Following the cancellation of the Energia programme Site 250 fell out of use. In 2008 Site 250 was selected for development of an Angara launch complex at Baikonur, the Bayterek Launch Complex, instead of [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200|Site 200/40]] as had originally been planned, and Site 110 which was also under consideration. This decision was officially confirmed in 2009.<ref name="RSW"/>

Today the UKSS at Site 250 is still standing, however it is deteriorating. Construction work for Bayterek is yet to begin.<ref name="RSW"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Baikonur Cosmodrome launch sites}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:Baikonur Cosmodrome]]