Foreigners Banned From Baikonur

Aren't the Russians technically foreigners in Kasakhstan as well?

Read it carefully - foreigners are banned from the "city" of Baikonur, not the launch complex itself which is controlled by Russian Fed personnel. Those of you that have actually been to Baikonur know that you almost never leave the launch center anyway. The only access is via Russian government airline (RSC-E aircraft or Russian Airforce) to the launch site itself, and there is really nothing to see or do in the city anyway. In fact, the Russians actively discourage anyone from leaving the launch site for safety reasons.

Bottom line - no impact

Editor's note: but that means that you cannot go to Ron Jon's in downtown Baikonur. Why bother going there at all if you cannot get a decent t-shirt.

Ivan, I'm not so sure. While the launch complex and the Airfield are Russian controlled, you have to travel through Kazakhi territory to get between the airfield and the launch complex -- you go through Kazakhi immigration formalities at the airfield and back through Russian immigration when you leave (actually, when you get back to Moscow). Sometimes the Russian and Kazakhi immigration officials at the airfield get into a bit of a standoff over who is in charge. Also, the Sputnik Hotel, where most foreign guests stay when visiting the launch complex is not on the launch complex but in the town of Baikonur.

You're right -- there is little to see in the town other than a preserved ICBM and the "Touchdown Yuri" statue of Gagarin in the central park. I didn't find it particularly unsafe, but I was travelling, including walking around, in a group led by folks who had been there several times.

Gee, it sure is a shame to see all of Borat's hard work go to waste.

Ok, the geographically aware people here must ask - the NEW Baikonur (using the spelling from the note on NW) is off limits? Does that include the rail stop Tyuratam? The old Baikonur (a couple of hundred kilometers away) is still not off limits? So the new Baikonur (was called Leninsk at one time) is off limits but we could still go to Frankie's in Turatam?

The only impact I can see is that NASA HQ and JSC Leadership will now have to stay on the Cosmodrome at the Energia apartments and not at the Sputnik Hotel in Baikonur. Some of the NASA people currently stay there, but now it appears everyone will need to. It will probably save American taxpayers money by limiting the NASA HQ Tours around the Baikonur markets. This is a small victory for the American taxpayers. However, don’t worry, NASA HQ and JSC Leadership will be sure to waste plenty of taxpayer money traveling to Russia in large numbers wondering aimlessly around Izmailovo Market, Red Square, and getting hammered in Star City (Sheps Bar). I have traveled there many times in the past and enjoyed it tremendously, but I have always wondered of the need to send so many people to support these events. Sorry NASAWATCH, just venting about wasteful spending.