1st State Testing Cosmodrome (Plesetsk)
Site Identification and Location
The 1st State Testing Cosmodrome (Plesetsk), also known as GIK-1 Plesetsk, is located in Arkhangelsk Oblast with headquarters and main garrison in the closed town of Mirny. The range lies at high latitude (approximately 62.9°N, 40.6°E), enabling direct access to high-inclination and sun-synchronous orbits. The area comprises extensive forested terrain and multiple dispersed technical and launch zones connected by dedicated road and rail.
Mission and Operational Role
Plesetsk is a Ministry of Defence space launch range that conducts testing and operational launches of Russian national security payloads. It supports prelaunch processing, integration, and launch of military spacecraft, qualification of new launch vehicles and ground systems, and range safety and telemetry functions for ascent operations.
Command and Administrative Status
The cosmodrome is subordinated to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), Space Forces branch. Administrative support and garrison services are provided through Mirny, a closed administrative-territorial formation (ZATO). Industrial organizations (such as Progress RCC, Khrunichev Center, NPO Lavochkin, and TsENKI) participate under state contract in vehicle and ground infrastructure preparation, while operational control and range safety remain under the Ministry of Defence.
Launch Complexes and Vehicle Support
Plesetsk supports Soyuz-2 family missions via the Site 43 complex (two pads) and the Angara family via the Universal Launch Complex at Site 35. The Angara program conducted its first suborbital test from Plesetsk on 9 July 2014 (Angara-1.2PP) and its first Angara-A5 orbital test on 23 December 2014, with additional A5 tests on 14 December 2020 and 27 December 2021. Operational Angara-1.2 flights began from Plesetsk in 2022. Rokot launches were conducted from a dedicated complex until 2019; a Rokot-M variant with domestically produced avionics has been announced for Plesetsk, but routine operations were not publicly confirmed as of October 2024. Legacy systems such as Molniya-M, Tsyklon-3, and Kosmos-3M are retired.
Technical Processing and Propellant Infrastructure
The cosmodrome fields technical areas for assembly, integration, and testing of launch vehicles and spacecraft, including dedicated payload processing facilities and encapsulation halls. Propellant infrastructure supports kerosene and liquid oxygen (for Soyuz and Angara) and hypergolic propellants where applicable (e.g., Fregat and Briz-M upper stages; Rokot historically used UDMH/N2O4). Operations include autonomous and integrated testing, environmental control for spacecraft, hazardous fueling, and prelaunch servicing with specialized mechanical, electrical, and pneumo-hydraulic ground support equipment.
Telemetry, Tracking, and Communications
Range instrumentation provides trajectory measurement, telemetry reception, command links, and flight safety services. The 3rd Measuring Point (military unit 12403) functions as a command-measurement node for prelaunch and ascent telemetry and tracking, integrated into the broader Space Forces network. The 98th Communications Center (military unit 32175) furnishes fixed and deployable secure communications for command, control, and data dissemination across the cosmodrome.
Reported Subordinate Units and Functions
Open-source reporting associates the following units with the cosmodrome: 98th Communications Center (military unit 32175); 2nd Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 30107); 8th Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 01349); 16th Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 14056); 17th Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 63551); 29th Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 13973); 83rd Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 25922); 229th Separate Engineering Test Section (military unit 14003); Separate Repair Base (military unit 57334); 3rd Measuring Point (military unit 12403); 205th Test Center (military unit 85907); 37th Separate Air Base Maintenance Battalion (military unit 34185); 478th Separate Technical Railway Battalion (military unit 42643); 40th Separate Security Battalion (military unit 42651); 75th Separate Operational and Technical Battalion (military unit 42670). Detailed manning, equipment tables, and internal facility assignments are not publicly disclosed.
Engineering Test Sections
Separate Engineering Test Sections perform acceptance checks and prelaunch preparation for rocket-space systems. Typical responsibilities include verification of electrical and telemetry systems, pneumo-hydraulic servicing, integration of payload fairings and upper stages, environmental control and conditioning of spacecraft, and operation of ground support equipment at technical and launch areas. While individual specialization may differ among the 2nd, 8th, 16th, 17th, 29th, 83rd, and 229th sections, public sources do not specify precise vehicle or subsystem assignments for each.
Airfield and Aviation Support
The Plestsy airfield near Mirny supports the movement of personnel and oversize cargo, including heavy transport aircraft such as Il-76 and An-124 for delivery of spacecraft and large launch vehicle components. The 37th Separate Air Base Maintenance Battalion (military unit 34185) manages airfield operations, maintenance, and ground handling required for space launch support.
Rail and Ground Logistics
A dedicated broad-gauge rail network connects technical complexes, propellant depots, and launch sites. Horizontal rail transport is employed for integrated rocket stages and hazardous cargo. The 478th Separate Technical Railway Battalion (military unit 42643) is responsible for range rail operations, track and rolling stock maintenance, and secure movement of cryogenic and hypergolic propellants, large structures, and support equipment. Ground vehicle fleets supplement rail for intra-range distribution.
Security and Access Control
Plesetsk operates within a restricted area centered on the ZATO of Mirny. Access to technical zones and launch complexes is controlled via layered security measures, including perimeter fencing, checkpoints, patrol coverage, and restricted hazard zones during fueling and launch campaigns. The 40th Separate Security Battalion (military unit 42651) provides installation security, access control, and convoy escort in coordination with military police and internal services.
Maintenance and Repair
Sustained operations in subarctic conditions require continuous inspection, maintenance, and overhaul of ground support equipment and range instrumentation. The Separate Repair Base (military unit 57334) oversees planned and corrective maintenance, calibration, and refurbishment of mechanical systems, electrical power and distribution, cryogenic and propellant handling equipment, and specialty tooling.
Test and Evaluation Organizations
The 205th Test Center (military unit 85907) is cited in open sources as conducting testing and evaluation related to space systems at Plesetsk. Typical functions of such centers include qualification of ground equipment and procedures, participation in flight test campaigns for new launch vehicle configurations, and post-flight analysis. The detailed scope, staffing, and subordinate elements of this center are not publicly described.
Operational Profile and Orbits
The cosmodrome’s latitude enables efficient launches to polar and sun-synchronous orbits, as well as highly inclined and Molniya-type highly elliptical orbits. It is frequently used for national security payloads such as reconnaissance (optical and radar), signals intelligence, navigation (GLONASS), communications, and early-warning satellites. Direct injection to geostationary orbit is not performed from Plesetsk; missions requiring GEO are supported via intermediate orbits and upper stages.
Launch History Highlights (publicly reported)
Plesetsk has supported orbital launches since 17 March 1966. The Angara program milestones at Plesetsk include the first Angara flight (Angara-1.2PP suborbital) on 9 July 2014 and the first Angara-A5 orbital test on 23 December 2014, with subsequent A5 test flights on 14 December 2020 and 27 December 2021. Rokot/Briz-KM missions continued until 2019, after which operations were suspended pending the Rokot-M program. Soyuz-2 family launches have continued throughout, supporting a range of military payloads to high-inclination orbits.
Infrastructure Modernization and Legacy Systems
Ongoing modernization has focused on the Angara Universal Launch Complex at Site 35 and the refurbishment of Soyuz-2 support infrastructure at Site 43. Legacy systems, including Molniya-M, Tsyklon-3, and Kosmos-3M, have been retired and their associated facilities decommissioned or repurposed. Public sources indicate continued investment in payload processing and range instrumentation to support current vehicles and mission profiles.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Launch operations require management of hazardous materials, including liquid oxygen and kerosene, and hypergolic propellants for certain upper stages. Safety protocols encompass controlled fueling areas, spill containment, degassing and neutralization procedures, and range safety flight termination systems. The subarctic climate necessitates specialized winterization of equipment, snow and ice management, and cold-weather procedures to ensure schedule reliability.
Information Access and Classification
Specific details such as exact facility layouts, security systems, unit manning and readiness levels, and real-time launch campaign schedules are not publicly available or are classified. The unit identifiers listed are drawn from open-source reporting; comprehensive internal structures, tasking, and equipment inventories for those units are not disclosed in public sources.