It consists of two pads, Sites 43/3 and 43/4 (also known as SK-3 and SK-4) and has been used by R-7-derived rockets since the early 1960s.

After its decommissioning as a missile base, the complex was repurposed for space launches.

Both pads suffered significant damage due to explosions in the 1980s.

The first incident, on 18 March 1980, which came to be known as the Plesetsk launch pad disaster, occurred when a Vostok-2M rocket exploded during fueling operations at Site 43/4, killing 48 people and injuring dozens more.

On 18 June 1987, a Soyuz-U rocket exploded at liftoff from Site 43/3.