A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft.
In the aerospace context, a Cosmodrome is a site used for the launch and landing of spacecrafts. Cosmodrome is also referred as spaceport, it is a facility which contains a launchpad or launch complex, and other infrastructure necessary for the launch and landing of spacecrafts. Cosmodrome usually includes facilities for the assembly, storage, and maintenance of spacecrafts and for the tracking and control of spacecraft during flight.
Examples of Cosmodrome include:
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Baikonur Cosmodrome: It is located in Kazakhstan, it is the oldest and most well-known cosmodrome in the world, it has been in operation since the 1950s and has been used for a wide variety of manned and unmanned missions, including the launch of the first human into space, Yuri Gagarin.
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Cape Canaveral Air Force Station: It is located in Florida, United States. It is one of the most active cosmodrome in the world and has been used for a wide variety of manned and unmanned missions, including the launch of the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, and the Apollo missions to the Moon.
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Guiana Space Centre: It is located in French Guiana, South America. It is operated by the European Space Agency and Arianespace, it is used to launch a wide variety of payloads, including communications satellites, Earth observation satellites, and scientific spacecraft.
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Satish Dhawan Space Centre: It is located in Sriharikota, India. It is operated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and it is used to launch a wide variety of payloads, including communications satellites, Earth observation satellites, and scientific spacecraft.
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Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site: It is located in Wenchang, China. It is operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and it is used to launch a wide variety of payloads, including communications satellites, Earth observation satellites, and scientific spacecraft.
Cosmodrome are essential infrastructure for the aerospace industry and play a crucial role in the launch and landing of spacecrafts. They are also used for research and development in space technologies and for the training of space professionals.