Plesetsk Cosmodrome Overview

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, located in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, was initially developed as an ICBM site for the R-7 missile. Its high latitude makes it suitable for high inclination and polar orbits, particularly Molniya orbits. Initially a secondary launch site to Baikonur, Plesetsk's activity increased post-Soviet Union due to Kazakhstan charging usage fees for Baikonur. The cosmodrome is especially used for military satellites and launches various rockets like Soyuz, Cosmos-3M, Rokot, Tsyklon, and Angara. Despite its high latitude limiting certain launch types, it plays a significant role in Russia's space and defense sectors.