Exploring the Baikonur Cosmodrome, KAZAKHSTAN

4th November 2020

Exploring the Baikonur Cosmodrome, KAZAKHSTAN

Baikonur (Vestiges of the Soviet Space Programme) by Jonk, set in Kazakhstan.

This coffee table book is a perfect choice for anyone who is interested in the Soviet era, space travel and who loves great and evocative photography. I know little about space aspect but short chapters offer a readable introduction to the Soviet / USA space race (Apollo v Sputnik).

Jonk has to get himself to Kyzylorda (or Qyzylorda on the map), which is south east of the Cosmodrome and where he joins three others (whom he calls his accomplices).  Accessing the (for the most part) derelict site – stretching across 7000 square kilometres – is of course illegal, thus their first mission was to find a taxi driver who would be will to drop them off, and then return in a couple of days to pick them up again at an appointed time and place.

Photo: National Online Project

Once dropped, they had to dodge the sporadic guard patrols and get to work on their individual projects.

Jonk and Jonglez Publishing have brought together a spectacular record of images – concrete, metal and broken glass that tests to a once major and industrious site. There is still plenty of space hardware – large rocket launchers and even documents relating to launches, marked with the hammer and sickle – but somehow the peeling paint and the rusting ironware are equally as engaging. There is something quite mesmerising about seeing edifices that once were scenes of immense activity relegated to creaking skeletons – providing a different experience than in their heyday.

I can truly understand the pleasure of urbexing and now that so many places are off limits, this is a great way to explore through the lens of gifted photographer.

And if you fancy trekking out to Kyzylorda, then you can find The 10 Best Things to do in Kyzylorda on TripAdvisor (who knows!)

Tina for the TripFiction team

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Connect with Jonk via his website and if you have any interest whatsoever in abandoned places, then follow him on Facebook, where he uploads images on a regular basis, of abandoned venues and sites that were once hubs of human activity – stark and vivid.

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