Core Points - Baikonur Cosmodrome celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, having launched over 1,500 rockets and nearly 2,000 spacecraft into orbit over the past seven decades [1][3] - The launch site, located in southern Kazakhstan, covers approximately 7,000 square kilometers, which is equivalent to two and a half times the area of Moscow [3] - Baikonur has been the site of significant historical events, including the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin's historic flight in 1961 [3] Infrastructure and Facilities - The Baikonur Cosmodrome includes 15 launch complexes, 4 intercontinental ballistic missile test launch pads, 11 assembly and testing buildings, two airports, 470 kilometers of railway, and 1,281 kilometers of highways [3] - Currently, Russia rents the launch site from Kazakhstan and continues to use it for regular launches of the Soyuz crewed spacecraft and Progress cargo spacecraft [3] Historical Significance - October 24 is marked as a "dark day" for the launch site due to tragic incidents, including a fire in 1960 that resulted in 78 fatalities [4] - Despite the gradual transfer of launch operations to the new Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, the Russian space agency plans to continue using Baikonur until at least the expiration of the lease in 2050 [4]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that Russia maintains a strong position in manned space exploration, with a solid foundation and clear goals, as highlighted by the achievements of the Russian space program [2][3] - Russia sends two batches of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) annually, contributing to scientific experiments that advance medical and industrial developments on Earth [2] - The reliability of Russian launch vehicles is emphasized, with the assertion that Russia's space program will remain at the forefront of global science [2] Group 2 - The discussion includes the perspective on Elon Musk's plans to decommission the ISS in favor of Mars exploration, with a strong argument made for the continued importance of low Earth orbit and the ISS [2][3] - The "Soyuz" spacecraft is noted as one of the best crewed spacecraft, with a return capsule volume of 9 cubic meters, compared to SpaceX's 8.7 cubic meters, highlighting the functional design differences [2][3] - The advancements in spacecraft technology are mentioned, including automated calculations for docking with the ISS and upgraded propulsion systems [3] Group 3 - The potential for human habitation in space is discussed, with the current record for time spent in space being 437 days, and radiation being identified as a significant risk for astronauts [5] - The completion of numerous scientific experiments during missions is highlighted, including the groundbreaking achievement of 3D printing living tissues in space, which could have future applications on Earth [5] - The versatility of astronauts is emphasized, as they perform multiple roles including piloting, maintenance, and scientific research, although specialization in space is currently limited due to training costs [10][11]