Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre
Glavny Ispytatelny Tsentr Ispytany i Upravleniya Kosmicheskimi Sredstvami (GITSIU COP)
Krasnoznamensk in Russia
Coordinates55°35′38″N 37°02′49″E / 55.594°N 37.047°E / 55.594; 37.047
TypeSatellite Control Centre
Site information
OwnerRussian Aerospace Forces
Controlled byRussian Space Forces
ConditionOperational
Site history
Built1957 (1957)
EventsOrbital station Mir

The Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre (Russian: Главный испытательный центр испытаний и управления космическими средствами (ГИЦИУ КС), tr. Glavny Ispytatelny Tsentr Ispytany i Upravleniya Kosmicheskimi Sredstvami (GITSIU COP)) (also referenced as the Titov Space Control Centre and Titov Space Centre) is the main Russian military and commercial satellite control centre. It is run by the Russian Space Forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces.[1] Located roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest of Moscow in closed town of Krasnoznamensk, the centre was built in 1957 as part of the Soviet space program, and was known by the name of Golitsyno-2.[2][3]

History

A resolution of the Council of Ministers of 30 January 1956 provided for the establishment of a command and control complex for the first flight satellites. Work on the construction of the centre began on May 8, 1957. GITSIU COP and subordinate military units together with the Mission Control Centre support the entire space programme.[4] The military is responsible for the condition of many domestic orbital systems — military, scientific, manned and other. Specialists at the main centre started working with the first launches, first artificial satellite, the first manned flight into space. They also worked on Soviet Moonwalkers (lunokhody), and on the programme for the orbital station Mir, right up until the last seconds of its existence. Now among their many tasks is work with the International Space Station.

Centre

Currently the Centre manages 75% of the domestic Russian orbital spacecraft constellation. By order of the Russian President on 14 August 2001, the centre was named after Gherman Titov, to honour the second human to orbit the Earth, who had been one of the leaders of the Centre.

The centre has locations throughout Russia involved in testing, measuring and certifying equipment which are subordinated to the main centre.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Structure". Russian Ministry of Defence. n.d. Archived from the original on 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  2. ^ "Chirac visits Russia's top-secret space center". People's Daily Online. 2004-04-05. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  3. ^ a b "Golitsino-2". Global Security. 2011-07-21. Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  4. ^ a b A Kopik (c. 2003). "Космические войска" [Space Forces]. Novosti Kosmonavtiki. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2012-03-05.

55°35′38″N 37°02′49″E / 55.594°N 37.047°E / 55.594; 37.047

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