Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81

Site 81

A Proton-K with the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station during launch from LC-81/23.
Launch site	Baikonur Cosmodrome
Short name	LC-81/23
Operator	RVSN, VKS, RKA
Total launches	164
Launch pad(s)	2
Minimum / maximum orbital inclination	49° – 99°
Site 81/23 launch history
Status	Inactive
Launches	104
First launch	16 July 1965
Last launch	27 March 2004
Associated rockets	Proton Proton-K Proton-M
Site 81/24 launch history
Status	Active
Launches	60
First launch	22 November 1967
Last launch	Luch-5B and Yamal-300K, 2 November 2012
Associated rockets	Proton Proton-K Proton-M

Site 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a launch site used, along with Site 200, by Proton rockets. It consists of two launch pads, areas 23 and 24. Area 24 is currently used for Proton-K and Proton-M launches, while Area 23 is currently inactive.

Several planetary probes have been launched from Site 81. Area 23 was used to launch Mars 3, Mars 4, Mars 6 and Venera 11, whilst Area 24 was used by Mars 2, Mars 5, Mars 7, Venera 9, Venera 10 and Venera 12. Several Luna probes were also launched from both areas.

The Zarya and Zvezda modules of the International Space Station, as well as Salyut 2, 3 and 5, and the Spektr and Priroda modules of Mir, were launched from Area 23. Area 24 was used to launch Salyut 1, 4 and 6.

References

• Wade, Mark. "Baikonur LC81/23" (html) (in English). Encyclopedia Astronatuica. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
• Wade, Mark. "Baikonur LC81/24" (html) (in English). Encyclopedia Astronatuica. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15.