View source for Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 45

{{Infobox launch pad
|name = Site 45
|image=Zenit-2 rocket ready for launch.jpg
|imsize=
|caption=A [[Zenit-2]] rocket at Site 45/1
|site = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]]
|location = {{Coord|45.943|63.653}}
|operator = [[RVSN]], [[VKS]], [[Russian Federal Space Agency|RKA]]
|tlaunches = 47
|inclination = 49° – 99°
|pads = 2
|short = LC-45
| paddetails  = 
  {{Infobox launch pad/pad
  | designation = Site 45/1
  | status      = Active
  | launches    = 45<ref name="JSR-Zenit">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/launch/Zenit|title=Zenit|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|work=Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database|publisher=Jonathan's Space Home Page|accessdate=2015-01-07}}</ref>
  | first       = 13 April 1985<ref name="EA-Zenit">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/zenit.htm|title=Zenit|last=Wade|first=Mark|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2008-10-04| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081007092508/http://astronautix.com/lvs/zenit.htm| archivedate= 7 October 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>  |first_details = [[Zenit-2]] / [[Tselina (satellite)|Tselina-2]] mass simulator
  | last        = 11 December 2015 |last_details  = [[Zenit-3F]] / [[Elektro–L|Elektro–L No.2]] 
  | rockets     = [[Zenit-2]]<br> [[Zenit-2M|Zenit-2M (2SLB)]] (active)<br> [[Zenit-3SLB|Zenit-3M (3SLB)]] (active)
  }}{{Infobox launch pad/pad
  | designation = Site 45/2
  | status      = Destroyed
  | launches    = 2<ref name="EA2">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/bailc452.htm|title=Baikonur LC45/2|last=Wade|first=Mark|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref>
  | first       = 22 May 1990  |first_details = [[Zenit-2]] / [[Tselina-2]]
  | last        = 4 October 1990 |last_details  = [[Zenit-2]] / [[Tselina-2]]
  | rockets     = [[Zenit-2]]
  }}
}}

'''Site 45''' at the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] is a launch site used by [[Zenit (rocket family)|Zenit rockets]]. It consists of two pads, one of which is still in use. It has been the launch site for all [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and [[Russia]]n government Zenit launches, along with a commercial launch conducted for [[Globalstar]] in 1998, and continuing commercial launches under the [[Land Launch]] programme. The main pad at the site is area 45/1, which was completed in 1983 following five years of construction.<ref name="EA-Zenit" /> A second pad, area 45/2, was completed in 1990, but was destroyed by a launch failure in the same year.<ref name="RSW">{{cite web|url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_zenit.html|title=Zenit Rocket Facilities in Baikonur|last=Zak|first=Anatoly|publisher=RussianSpaceWeb.com|accessdate=2008-10-04| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081010175450/http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_zenit.html| archivedate= 10 October 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

The first launch from site 45, using pad 1, occurred on 13 April 1985. This was a [[sub-orbital]] test flight of the [[Zenit-2]], and the maiden flight of the Zenit rocket. The launch failed, and was followed up with a second, successful, test flight launched at 08:21 [[GMT]] on 21 June 1985. Whilst this launch was also intended to be suborbital, some debris from the launch reached [[low Earth orbit]].<ref name="EA-Zenit" /> The first launch from pad 2 occurred on 22 May 1990, when a Zenit-2 successfully orbited a [[Tselina-2]] [[ELINT]] satellite. On the next launch, also from pad 2, the first stage [[RD-171]] engine failed five seconds after launch and the rocket fell back onto the launch pad from a height of about {{convert|70|m|ft}}. The resulting explosion completely destroyed the launch pad, and was reported to have lifted a 1,000 tonne metal structure 20 metres into the air, and to have caused significant damage to lighting towers 100 metres from the pad.<ref name="RSW" /> Zenit launches resumed from pad 1 around ten months later, pad 2 was not rebuilt.

On 29 June 2007, the first Zenit-2M was launched from pad 1,<ref name="EA1">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/bailc451.htm|title=Baikonur LC45/1|last=Wade|first=Mark|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> followed by the first Zenit-3SLB on 28 April 2008.

Facilities to support manned launches were built at both pads. These included large mobile access towers, which would have allowed the crew to board a spacecraft on top of the rocket. These towers were never used. The tower at area 45/1 is still intact, and the tower at area 45/2 is still standing, but was heavily damaged in the October 1990 explosion. The towers are not used in unmanned launch operations, as all systems are automated, and no access to the rocket is required.<ref name="RSW" />

==See also==
* [[Ocean Odyssey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Literature ==
* "Baikonur. Korolev. Yangel." - M. I. Kuznetsk, Voronezh: IPF "Voronezh", 1997, ISBN 5-89981-117-X
* "Look back and look ahead. Notes of a military engineer" - Rjazhsky A. A., 2004, SC. first, the publishing house of the "Heroes of the Fatherland" ISBN 5-91017-018-X
* «A breakthrough in space» - Konstantin Vasilyevich Gerchik, M: LLC "Veles", 1994, - ISBN 5-87955-001-X
* «At risk,» - A. A. Toul, Kaluga, "the Golden path", 2001, - {{Listed Invalid ISBN|5-7111-0333-1}}
* "Bank of the Universe" - edited by Boltenko A. C., Kiev, 2014., publishing house "Phoenix", ISBN 978-966-136-169-9
* "My first life" - Е. A. Anufrienko.

{{Baikonur Cosmodrome launch sites}}

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

[[Category:Baikonur Cosmodrome]]