The Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakh: Байқоңыр ғарыш айлағы, Kazakh: [bɑjxɔˈnər ɣɑˈrəʃ ɑjlɑˈɣə]; Russian: Космодром Байконур, Russian: [kɐsməˈdrom bɐjkəˈnʊr]) is a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to Russia. The Cosmodrome is the world's first spaceport for orbital and human launches and the largest (in area) operational space launch facility. All crewed Russian spaceflights are launched from Baikonur. The spaceport is in the desert steppe of Baikonur, about east of the Aral Sea an…