The Cosmodrome in the game is loosely modeled after the idea of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazahkstan (though the lore is sometimes a bit inconsistent - Siberia or not?). Here is a compilation of news clips from the late 80s showing the Soviet space shuttle Buran that launched on November 15, 1988 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Thought it would be cool to share an IRL thing that has a special place in the game.