The distant Kazakhstani Steppe transforming into a cosmic entranceway
Every quarter, this capsule would descend in the heart of nowhere, unnoticed by many, as recounted by the diverse astronauts returning from the International Space Station (ISS). It was a rare event, albeit one filled with grandeur, mentioned McConnell during a video call from Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
McConnell, having just returned from an assignment in Gaza and commonly working in conflict zones, felt driven to document a "shining human achievement" instead of perpetual misery and sorrow. Thus, in 2015, he embarked on a series of over a dozen journeys to Kazakhstan, where spacecraft like the Soyuz, including their compact, three-person landing capsules, smaller than a car, touched down on Earth with their passengers.
Following the discontinuation of NASA's Space Shuttle program four years prior, at the time, Kazakhstan was the sole entrance to the ISS. With aid from local photographers, McConnell connected with the crew responsible for intercepting the capsules after their three-and-a-half-hour trip back to Earth.
He camped out on the grasslands northeast of the Russian-owned Baikonur Cosmodrome, patiently waiting for the "blast in the sky" that signaled the spacecraft's reentry. Upon their assessment of the wind's influence on the capsule's trajectory, the ground team would then speed across the steppe in Jeeps to greet it.
Originally, McConnell envisioned capturing the astronauts' expressions right after landing ("What expressions would these individuals bear after such an awe-inspiring event?"). However, he soon realized that reality fell short of expectations ("They donned hats, bestowed flowers, and greeted them like 'Hey, Mom, yeah, I'm back.'").
On his first trip in 2015, however, McConnell encountered an unforeseen phenomenon – one that piqued his curiosity: The appearance of villagers from scant settlements in the desolate region.
"This indistinct white car emerged from the horizon, serpentining through the immense Russian Air Force helicopters seated on the steppe," McConnell reminisced. "They were locals eager to witness this extraordinary occurrence in their backyard. I was beguiled by this, it hadn't crossed my mind that people inhabited this area."
Two universes intertwined
Consequently, some of McConnell's photographs showcase renowned astronauts such as Tim Peake and Kate Rubins, while his new photobook delves into the Kazakh communities that inadvertently share a connection with space travel.
Images of nomads on horseback coexist with everyday scenes in Kenjebai-Samai, the village where the photographer resided before venturing onto the grasslands. An intriguing photograph of a young girl climbing a makeshift fence crafted from space debris symbolizes the unconcerned curiosity McConnell encountered in the locals.
"Remarkably, many people in the village claimed to have witnessed it once and ventured to view it," he said, adding: "As for the children, they are curious about these objects and possess a rudimentary understanding that an event transpires 'somewhere outside.' However, no one escorts them to witness it. It happens approximately 30 kilometers away, but it might as well be miles away."
Yet, the photographer perceived striking similarities between these intertwined lives: "The modern-day explorer – the astronaut – and the original wanderers are an intriguing comparison at the book's core... It's fascinating the diverse ways we live on this planet, and these contrasting worlds collide here."
The steppe serves as another eminent character in the book. McConnell's photographs depict this 'gateway to space' as an empty, littered landscape marred by debris from space travel and coal mines.
At times, the alien-like scenes evoke a mysterious alien world, thanks to the photographer's clever manipulation of perspective. For instance, an image of a ground crewmember approaching a Soyuz capsule, shrouded by a wall of dust, resembles a faraway world in a science fiction film. The book's title, "Some Worlds Have Two Suns," and the omission of captions, heighten viewers' incredulity about the setting of the images.
"I was struck by how, at times, it wasn't clear if I was on Earth or another planet," McConnell said. "You wondered, 'perchance, this is Earth, but could it be another world?'"
Cold War leftover
Kazakhstan's significance in Russian space exploration dates back to the 1950s, when it was still a part of the USSR. The arid steppe, situated near the Ural Mountains and further south, was strategically situated closer to the equator, expediting spacecraft's journey to the thermosphere inhabited by the ISS.
The Baikonur Cosmodrome played a pivotal role in both space travel and the Cold War. Humanity's inaugural artificial satellite, Sputnik, was launched there in 1957. Likewise, Laika the dog and Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, embarked on their spaceships from Baikonur in 1961. Launching the Soyuz ("union" in Russian) program in 1966, it has since accomplished over 1,600 missions.
Following the dismantling of the Iron Curtain and Kazakhstan's emergence as an independent nation in 1991, Russia continued to lease the land housing the cosmodrome. During this period, McConnell primarily explored the steppe but frequently visited the facility, capturing images ranging from colossal launchpads to close-ups of astronauts undergoing spacesuit inspections prior to takeoff.
These photographs serve as a testament to an era's closure for both Kazakhstan's (and according to McConnell, Russia's) space explorations. The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, currently operates a comparable facility on their domestic territory in Siberia, rendering the Baikonur Cosmodrome less relevant. Furthermore, Soyuz spacecraft are no longer the sole means of transporting crew to and from the ISS. In 2020, SpaceX's Crew Dragon started ferrying passengers to the space station from American soil, while Boeing conducted a manned Starliner trial mission earlier this year.
In McConnell's opinion, "Investment isn't there anymore" in Russia's space program, and their innovations no longer hold the same significance. He noted that the achievements of SpaceX are remarkable, and the location that once marked the beginning of this journey, may gradually lose its prominence, making up part of the narrative.
"*Two Suns in Some Worlds***," published by GOST, is currently available.
In his new photobook, McConnell explores the connection between the renowned astronauts and the Kazakh communities, showcasing a young girl climbing a fence made from space debris in Kenjebai-Samai (contains 'arts', 'style'). This intriguing image exemplifies the unique 'style' of curiosity exhibited by the locals towards space travel.
Furthermore, McConnell's photographs depict the steppe as an 'empty' landscape filled with debris from space travel and coal mines, creating an alien-like 'style' that often leaves viewers questioning if they're on Earth or another planet (contains 'arts', 'style').
(Note: The words 'style' and 'arts' have been used in the context of 'aesthetic presentation' or 'unique character', not necessarily in the traditional sense of 'fine arts' or 'performing arts.')
