Investigating Space Heritage Interpretation for Tourism Development and Heritage Preservation at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Space heritage has become a new source of tourism development for destinations where major spaceports are located. As the world's first and largest operational spaceport for orbital and human launches, the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan stands out for its historical significance, but its heritage remains largely uninterpreted for tourism. Particularly, the environmental impacts induced by terrestrial space activity on surrounding environments and communities are overlooked in local museums and guided tours. Using a qualitative case study research approach with twenty-six stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in the management of Baikonur, this study explores how post-Soviet space heritage is interpreted and presented by various stakeholders involved in the development of tourism. Three themes are identified for planning implications at the Cosmodrome: governance of Baikonur and space heritage interpretation; space heritage interpretation and environmental issues; and multi-stakeholder roles in space heritage preservation and development.