CONTACT The best way to contact me is through Instagram or Email. EMAIL shanesunburn@gmail.com INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE (click on link below) Instagram Youtube shanesunburn Gagarin’s Start / Korolev’s Underground Command Po Cottages of Gagarin and Korolev - Baikonur Cosmodr Energia Rocket, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan [A Buran Space Shuttle, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhst Baikonur City, Kazakhstan [April 2026] For years, Karlag ,Dolinka, Kazakhstan [April 26] Karlag doe Karaganda, Kazakhstan [Apr 26] Felt like a city b Mad Honey Hunting in Nepal🇳🇵. Thank you! [April 26 Mad Honey Hunting, Nepal [April 26] One of the wi Lamjung Highlands, Nepal [April 26] Mad Honey Hunt Kathmandu, Nepal [April 26] Ancient squares in Ka Thank you, Eritrea — easily my favorite African co Tank Graveyard, Metal Market, Abandoned Train Stat Massawa, Eritrea (Jan 25) Probably the most beaut Keren - Eritrea [Jan 26] 2 hours away from Asmara Fiat Tagliero Building - Eritrea [Jan 26] Built i Asmara - Eritrea [Jan 26] Day 2 in Asmara. The pe Asmara - Eritrea [Jan 26] Bowling, Asmara style. Beirut – Lebanon (Jan 26) Continuing the travel d Thank you Syria. The people I met and the places Follow on Instagram
![Gagarin’s Start / Korolev’s Underground Command Post - Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan [April 2026]
In 1961, almost 66 years ago, Gagarin’s Start became the place where everything changed — the launch pad that sent the first human into space.
This is where Yuri Gagarin lifted off aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human to leave Earth. There’s no spectacle left in the structure itself — just the quiet presence of something that once carried unimaginable risk and uncertainty.
Not far from here is an underground bunker where Sergei Korolev and his team controlled the launch. Hidden beneath the surface, they watched telemetry, made decisions in real time, and carried the responsibility of sending a human into the unknown. Korolev himself remained unseen to the public, known only as the “Chief Designer.”
This is also the location that the US couldn’t find!
Above ground, a man went to space. Below ground, others held their breath and made it possible. Both places feel connected — one launch, two worlds, and a moment that redefined what humanity could do.
Legendary!
Organizing a tour this September! Join me! Link in bio!](https://shanesunburn.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)