Foreign Tourists Face Trial for Photographing Rocket at Baikonur

Russian Court Accuses Visitors of Violating Space Security Laws

Pair Detained after Attempting to Capture Image of Launcher

Two foreign tourists have been detained at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan after attempting to photograph a rocket launch. The tourists, whose identities have not been released, were reportedly unaware of the security regulations prohibiting photography at the site.

According to Russian officials, the tourists were detained after they were caught taking pictures of a Soyuz rocket on the launchpad. The incident occurred on Friday, July 15, just hours before the scheduled launch of the rocket carrying a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station.

The tourists were charged with violating Russian space security laws, which prohibit unauthorized photography and filming of military and space facilities. The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has not commented on the incident. However, the agency has previously warned foreign visitors about the need to comply with security regulations at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Baikonur Cosmodrome is a major space launch facility located in the Kazakh steppe. It is the world's oldest and largest operational space launch site, and has been used to launch over 2,000 satellites and spacecraft into orbit.

The incident highlights the importance of adhering to safety and security regulations at space launch facilities. Unauthorized photography and filming can pose a significant security risk, as it could compromise the integrity of the launch and potentially endanger lives.