48th Combat Launch Station

48-я боевая стартовая станция

Military Unit: 14003

Activated 21.9.58 in Medved, Novgorod Oblast.

June 1959 transferred to the Baikonur Test Center for training with the R-7A (SS-6) missile.

January 1960 transferred to Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, and went on alert duty 15.4.60 with one R-7A (SS-6) pad at Area 16.

From 30.4.64 under the 1st Department, and from 20.4.79 the 2nd Test Department.

The station stood down 7.1.67, and parts of the pad structure were dismantled and shipped (1.67/2.67) to the Baikonur Test Center, in order to upgrade Area 1.

Reformed 20.4.79 (complete 17.3.80) as the 229th independent Engineering & Test Unit (military unit: 49569), from parts of the 29th independent Engineering & Test Unit (military unit: 13973) and a maintenance company (military unit: 08342). From 1.2.80 reverted to its old number - military unit: 14003.

The pad was modernized, beginning in 1979, and the first space launch took place 19.2.81.

US designation: Plesetsk ICBM Complex - launch point IV (Type I pad):

• pad completed in 1960
• parts of the pad structure were dismantled and shipped (1.67/2.67) to the Baikonur Test Center, in order to upgrade Area 1
• pad rebuilt/modernized from 1979
• R-7A variants: 1st launch 19.2.81 (Kosmos 1247) - still in use

Plesetsk ICBM Complex - launch point IV (62 57 36N, 40 41 00E):

Soviet designations (Plesetsk Test Range):

• Launch Pad - Site 2 (62 57 36N, 40 41 00E)
• Missile Ready Building/Assembly Hall (MIK-4) - Site 4? (62 55 40N, 40 31 42E) - the MIK was constructed 1979/1980.
• Residential/Support Area - Site 16