Baikonur is one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. Located in the middle of the Kazakh steppe, the town was built from scratch in the 1950s to support the Soviet space programme. It is now the only place in the world from where manned spacecraft are launched into orbit. The desert town is a strange and lonely place, with a population of just a few thousand people. But it is also home to a unique and vibrant culture, centred around the space programme. The Baikonur Cosmodrome is one of the most advanced space facilities in the world, and the town is full of engineers, scientists and astronauts. There is a feeling of excitement and optimism in the air, as people here work to push the boundaries of human exploration. Baikonur is a unique and fascinating place, and a must-see for anyone interested in space exploration.