Baikonur Cosmodrome: The Soviet Gateway to the Stars

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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Morris M
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris

Source/Further reading:

[CallieMasters]

Only Simon can be sponsored by a shave club and a hair growth company, neither of which he uses.

[ferrodeus]

One of my favorite bits of knowledge about Korolev is that, when Sakharov and some of his colleagues went to visit Korolev to explain why they couldnt make the warheads any lighter, Korolev just smiled and said something to the effect of "alright, I see. I'll get back to working on vetter missiles then." When asked why he seemed so happy about having to undertake more work, he led them to a globe standing on a counter and told the nuclear physisists and engineers about his dreams. He dreamed of mankind one day going to space, but he knew there was no way the Soviet government would fund such a program at the time. So, he said, he decided to do the closest thing possible, and design extremely long-range missiles. Because who knows, if he keeps having to make better rockets for bombs, someday he might be able to put a person in one, and send them to space.

[CallieMasters]

In Soviet Russia, Ruble Shave Club is a woman with one straight razor who comes to your house.

[alexmiller]

My grandmother met my grandfather on one of the Baikonur construction sites, she was a civil engineer, he was an officer in the Soviet army combat engeneers.

[henrysmommy]

I love the fact that the cosmonaut rituals are something they have everyone who's flying out of there participate in. It's a unique way to bring everyone together in a clearly very silly and inclusive way. Seems like a good plan right before they all embark on what is definitely an extreme experience that will require teamwork to accomplish...

[mrmacguffn]

The launch rituals sound like the beginning of the Tech Priests from 40k

[into_the_void]

America : we must go to space !

Tunguska Soviet Russia : space comes to you..!

[Zman]

Biographics on Yuri Gagarin.

His story seems... amazing. A peasant from nowhere to cosmonaut. That’s some goals.

[HovektheArtist]

I love it when the cosmodrome is brought up, one of the most interesting and important places of modern history, and to all
Per audacia ad astra

[goodchessactor]

Guard: "Come with us Sergei Pavlovich. You must help send satellite."
Korolev:"You can do it yourself, it is not rocket science."
Guard: Ah, but it is, Sergei, it is!

[cameronjenkins]

Okay, Sergei Korolev had nothing to do with the Nedelin disaster. The rocket designer in charge there was Mikhail Yangel, and he wasn't even at fault for the disaster. One first that wasn't mentioned was Luna 3, which gave us our first view of the far side of the moon. Next, Gagarin was not launched in a Soyuz, since that was only created after Korolev's death. Also, the first woman in space and first spacewalk happened while Korolev was still alive, not after he died. Just some little things...

[r.a.alvarez]

By reason of that punch to the jaw, the USSR planted their own demise.

They lost not because of what they were doing but because of what they had done.

[rollog]

Okay Korolev, enough fun in the gulag! Time to make Sputnik!

[alexandergustafsson]

This is the episode I didn't know I wanted! Just have to open a bottle of wine to accompany the episode... Geographics rocks!

[ignitionfrn]

1:25 - Chapter 1 - The missiles are flying
4:30 - Chapter 2 - Sky's (no longer) the limit
8:00 - Chapter 3 - Satellite of love
11:20 - Mid roll ads
12:45 - Chapter 4 - The madman & the eagle
17:25 - Chapter 5 - Magic & ritual
20:40 - Chapter 6 - The gateway closes

[SEAZNDragon]

6:00 anyone had flashbacks to the Cannibal Island episode?

[jeffpetric]

despite the number of comments that I don't understand, I appreciate your work and your channel, thank you

[barovan]

I love these Kazakh locations he does. LIving here I have been to both that I have seen, Baikanur and Semy! Thanks for the stories!

[exoplaymaster-]

Some centuries later in the Cosmodrome: A new Guardian has risen and prepares to kick Sepiks Primuses butt.

[andrewlyon]

Thank you so much for having in-video ads! It’s so nice to not have my learning interrupted by a noisy ad (especially since I live in Taiwan and can’t even usually understand them lol) and is so nice to be able to listen to these videos as I go to sleep and not be rudely awaken by the ad at the end!