The world's most prolific launch site by total launch count. At 62.9°N it is too far north to reach the ISS at 51.6°, so all missions go to high-inclination or polar orbits — almost exclusively military. Angara heavy-lift is being developed here.
A launch site's latitude determines which orbits are achievable and at what fuel cost. Plesetsk at 62.9271°N sets the following constraints:
From 62.9271°N, Plesetsk can reach 2 Starlink inclination shells: 70°, 97.6° SSO (polar).
Trains launched to higher inclinations are visible from more of the world. A 97° SSO train from Plesetsk would be visible at virtually every latitude; a 53° train is visible from latitudes up to ±57° (primarily) — much of the populated world. In the hours after launch — before satellites raise their orbits — a tight train of 20–60 bright dots crosses the sky roughly every 90 minutes. Use OrbitalNodes' Starlink tracker for exact train pass times.
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is located at 62.9271°N, 40.5774°E in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It is owned and operated by Russian Ministry of Defence. The site has conducted approximately 1,600 orbital launches since its first in 1966.
Current vehicles operating from Plesetsk Cosmodrome include Soyuz-2, Rokot (retired), Angara. Primary customers are Russian military, launching Military reconnaissance, GLONASS navigation, military communications.
At 62.9271°N, Plesetsk's minimum achievable inclination is 62.9° (due-east launch). Sun-synchronous orbits (~97°) are particularly efficient from this high latitude. The site can reach orbits between roughly 63° and 98° inclination.
Yes — Plesetsk Cosmodrome hosts a high cadence of approximately 15 orbital launches per year. Check the operator's website for public viewing arrangements and launch windows.
Satellites regularly launched from Plesetsk include Military reconnaissance, GLONASS navigation, military communications. Use OrbitalNodes to track any visible satellite in real time.
Plesetsk at 62.9271°N was positioned to serve high-inclination and polar orbit missions. The site has been operational since 1966.
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