Russia has paid Kazakhstan $56 million in rent for Baikonur cosmodrome this year

Since the start of 2011 Russia has paid Kazakhstan $56 million in rent for Baikonur cosmodrome, Novosti Kazakhstan quoted Vice Minister of Finance Ruslan Dalenov as saying July 14. “To rent out Baikonur, Russia pays $115 million a year. The payments are made on quarterly basis”, Dalenov wrote in his Twitter account. Baikonur is the first and largest cosmodrome in the world. Located in Kazkahstan, it is rented out to Russia by 2050. Baikonur is closer to the Equator than other launch sites – a situation that facilitates geostationary orbit or orbits less inclined to reach the International Space Station (ISS). This privileged geographic placement enables the launch of more significant payloads. The cosmodrome has been rented out since 1994. Annual rent stands at $115 million. Russia pays in military equipment. $50 million is transferred annually to maintain the infrastructure.