KAZAKHSTAN can鈥檛 claim to dominate many world industries, but it does currently have a monopoly on access to the space station. With the US shuttle grounded, all trips to the ISS begin at the Baikonur cosmodrome. No surprise, then, that the country is calling for a bigger role in running the space centre that sprawls across its steppes.
Since the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Russia has been renting the cosmodrome. This year, both countries agreed to extend this arrangement until 2050. But with what ground rules? 鈥淲e can鈥檛 be satisfied with the current rental situation,鈥� Kazakhstan鈥檚 foreign minister, Kasymzhomart Tokayev, said on 23 January.
Russia already pays $115 million per year for use of the site, but in future Kazakhstan may want a cut of the profits from commercial launches. Kazakhstan should also be 鈥渁 partner and collaborator鈥� in the space base, Tokayev told a conference on relations between Russia and Kazakhstan. The country wants its own communications satellite, as well as a say in the future development of the cosmodrome. 鈥淭his is a giant game of poker,鈥� says Jim Banke of Space.com. With the shuttle down, 鈥淜azakhstan鈥檚 hand has gone up鈥�.
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