The Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was created by the Soviets in the 1950s. It was from
Baikonur in 1988 that the first Soviet spaceplane Buran was launched in response to the
United States Space Shuttle.¿¿The Buran programme would officially end in 1993 during the
presidency of Boris Yeltsin with only one Buran launch ever taking place - in 1988. Thereafter
parts of the Baikonur Cosmodrome fell into disuse notably the sites connected with the launch
of these Soviet craft. The two shuttles that were completed remain abandoned there ¿laid to
rest in this atmospheric place. This is the first time that photographs of these spectacular
locations have been published in a book. Jonk travelled 20km through the Kazakh desert under
cover of night entered the hangars clandestinely and spent three nights there under the radar
of military security to produce a truly incredible photographic reportage of what is considered
today the world's most important urban exploration site. Jonk reveals to us his excellent
collection of photographs taken in the disused part of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. As well as
providing us with these amazing pictures he describes for us the incredible adventure of
visiting a location that is unique in the world.
