1961

In August 1961, another Corona satellite (known as "Discoverer-29") took much more detailed pictures of Plesetsk, which essentially turned the theory about so-called "missile gap" into a myth. Although practically all the Soviet territory was covered by that time, Plesetsk appeared to be the only operational ICBM base. (it is now known that Facilities N° 1 and N° 31 In Tyuratam had a capability of firing operational ICBMs). Corona photos showed two launch complexes in Plesetsk with two R-7 missiles for each pad. The same year, former Soviet intelligence officer Oleg Penkovskiy defected to the West, indirectly confirming some of the facts about Plesetsk. Among other things, he reported that General Grigoriev commanded strategic missile brigade in the Far North. Since Corona was officially classified project, the details of the discovery including Plesetsk location were not publicized by the US government and actual photos did not appear in the press until 1990's.

Plesetsk base mushroomed during 1960's. On July 15, 1961, two additional R-7 launch pads of Facility N° 3 were declared operational. They were served by the 70th battlefield station commanded by Colonel G.M. Merzlyakov stationed at facility N° 43. This unit conducted a dual launch of R-7 missiles from Tyuratam sometimes in 1960 or 1961. Various improvements allowed to reduce time necessary to prepare R-7As for launch down to seven or eight hours, as oppose to 12-16 hours needed to launch these missiles from both pads in Tyuratam. In either case, it was way too long for the pace of the Cold War. In August 1960, the construction of the two surface pads for R-16 missile started in Plesetsk. The new unit to serve R-16 missiles commanded by Colonel D.T. Gusha arrived in Plesetsk on June 13, 1961. The 1st Division of the unit was declared battle ready on October 27, 1961 with pads N° 5 and N° 6 operational. The 2nd Division had been officially ready to launch R-16 missiles from pads N° 7 and N° 8 since January 15, 1962. At the same time, three silos for R-16U missile were under construction in Plesetsk. Also, at the beginning of 1962 the construction of facilities for Korolev's R-9A missile had started.

"Missile Gap"

( Continue from "Chronology, 1960") At 30 August of the 1961, the same day the Soviet Union announced that it were breaking the nuclear test moratorium, the "Discoverer 29" (the first generation of a reconnaissance satellite), was launched. "Discoverer 29" went into a 345-by 140-mile, ( 555-by 225-kilometer), orbit.As it passed over Russia, the camera photographed the Plesetsk area. "Discoverer 29" stayed aloft for thirty-three orbits. On 1 September, it reentered but landed outside the recovery zone. Three divers jumped into the Pacific and 40 minutes later had the capsule secured in a raft. They were picked up by the USS "Epperson". The photos showed that Plesetsk was an ICBM facility. There were two above-ground launch pads, laid out the same as the pad at Tyuratam. Each pad had a SS-6 "Sapwood" ICBM plus a reload missile. Each carried a 5-megaton warhead.After a 3-year search, the first Soviet ICBMs finally had been found. By mid-September, the U.S. had recovered four capsules containing photos of suspected ICBM sites. Only those of "Discoverer 29" showed any missiles. Because the satellites had surveyed the whole of the Soviet land mass, the lack of missiles now could be proven. The four missiles at Plesetsk were the only ICBMs the Soviet Union had.

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