Published on: 2026-04-10
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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April 12 marks the 65th anniversary of the first human flight into space – an event that opened a new era in the history of humanity. On this day in 1961Yuri GagarinOn the spacecraft “Vostok-1,” the first orbital flight around the Earth was made.
However, this breakthrough became possible thanks to colossal work that began long before 1961. A crucial role in the development of the space industry was played by military builders, engineers, and scientists, among whom graduates of the Leningrad Engineering and Construction Institute (LISI, today SPbGASU) hold a special place.
Baikonur: construction that is ahead of schedule
The decision to create the Baikonur cosmodrome was made on February 12, 1955. In the shortest possible time, under the conditions of the Kazakh steppe desert, with the absence of developed infrastructure, large-scale construction work was carried out.
By 1957, key facilities had already been built here: launch complexes, assembly and test buildings, command posts, and measurement systems. On October 4, 1957, the world’s first artificial Earth satellite was launched from Baikonur, marking the beginning of the space era.
A special role in the construction of the cosmodrome belongs to a graduate of the LISIGeorgy Shubnikov.Under his leadership, in the harshest natural conditions, military builders erected unique and grandiose facilities of the cosmodrome. It is precisely thanks to his work that Baikonur became the largest site in the world for launching rockets and spacecraft.
Many graduates of the military engineering faculty of LISI also took part in the creation of the cosmodrome, immediately after completing their training, directed to the construction of this strategic facility.
LISI engineers in advanced defense science
The Military Construction Faculty of LISI was established in the early 1950s to train specialists capable of solving construction tasks for special-purpose facilities. Graduates of the faculty served throughout the territory of the Soviet Union – from the western borders to the Far East, from the Arctic regions to Central Asia.
They participated in the creation of:
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cosmodromes, including Baikonur and Plesetsk;
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anti-missile defense systems;
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missile attack warning system;
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naval bases and strategic facilities.
In particular, graduates of the faculty took part in the construction of the Sary-Shagan test site, where the world’s first missile defense system was created. On March 4, 1961, the world’s first interception of a ballistic missile warhead was carried out there.
From “Energy” to “Buran”: the contribution of graduates to space projects
A new stage in the development of domestic cosmonautics became the “Energia-Buran” program, which started in 1976. It is one of the largest scientific and technical projects of the 20th century, having no analogues in terms of the scale of cooperation and the volume of work.
Within the Baikonur program, unique facilities were constructed:
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The largest oxygen-nitrogen and cryogenic productions in Europe;
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powerful launch complexes;
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high-precision runway;
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hundreds of specialized facilities.
A graduate of LISI participated in the implementation of the projectAlexander Orlov.Having graduated from the institute in 1963, he followed the path of a military builder, working at strategic facilities throughout the country, and in 1981 he was sent to Baikonur.
Alexander Orlovwas responsible for the construction of facilities at one of the spaceport sites and took direct part in the preparation of the infrastructure for launches.
On May 15, 1987, the first launch of the “Energia” carrier rocket took place, and on November 15, 1988, the launch of the reusable spacecraft “Buran.” The spacecraft successfully completed the flight in automatic mode and made an accurate landing at the Baikonur airfield, becoming a symbol of engineering triumph.
A school tested by time
Over the years of its existence, the military construction faculty of LISi has trained about 600 specialists who have made a significant contribution to strengthening the country’s defense capability. They ensured the construction of facilities on which the security of the state depended, and participated in the implementation of the largest projects of their era.
Under the conditions of the “Cold War,” labor itself became an important part of creating the country’s missile-nuclear shield. In the most difficult conditions, often isolated from the industrial base, military builders erected unique facilities that had no analogues in the world.
Legacy of the Space Era
Today, SPBGASU continues the tradition of training highly qualified specialists in the fields of construction and engineering. The history of its graduates’ participation in the creation of cosmodromes, defense systems, and space programs is an integral part of the university’s and the entire country’s history.
On Cosmonautics Day, we recall with special pride the contribution of LISY – SPbGASU graduates to space exploration. Their labor, professionalism, and dedication to the cause became the foundation of achievements that forever changed the course of world history.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from an information source. It represents an accurate report of what the source asserts and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.