the essential
A Frenchman died of dehydration while trying to enter the Baikonur cosmodrome. A second Frenchman accompanied him. The latter survived, indicates the Russian press agency RIA on Tuesday June 11.
The desire to discover the Baikonur cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) cost the life of a Frenchman, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing an anonymous Source working on the space site. The information was also confirmed by Reuters.
The latter, who left by car on the highway with another person, left his vehicle at the main road to go, apparently on foot, to visit the Russian launch base.
But “on the way, one of them fell ill”, specifies the agency. His friend, who retraced his steps to the car to seek help, was unable to help him in time. The man died of dehydration.
A launch base in the middle of the desert
The Baikonur cosmodrome is located in the middle of the Kazakh desert, more than 2,000 kilometers from Moscow. However, it is from this place, in the middle of nowhere, that Russian rockets have been launched since the mid-20th century. Despite its disused appearance, the base remains one of the most active in the world. In this arid region, temperatures are extreme: up to 50°C in summer and -30°C in winter.
The site is highly coveted by fans of the conquest of space, but also by fans of urbex (tourist activity which consists of visiting abandoned buildings). However, only visitors who have shown their credentials can enter: prior approval must be obtained from the tour operator approved by Roscosmos – the Russian space agency – who is the only one able to issue visit authorizations. Obtaining a pass can take a long time, sometimes up to 50 days, says a Kazakh travel agency. In addition, some tourists are no longer allowed to access the launch base. This is particularly the case for Western tourists, explains an article in Figaro published in September 2023.
