Key Takeaways
- A Russian launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome was damaged during a successful Soyuz launch to the ISS.
- Roscosmos states repair parts are available and repairs will be completed soon.
- Analysts warn extended repairs could disrupt all Russian crew and cargo flights to the space station.
A launch pad at Russia’s primary space facility in Kazakhstan sustained damage during the blastoff of a mission carrying two Russians and one American to the International Space Station. Despite the ground infrastructure issue, the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft successfully docked and the crew safely boarded the orbiting laboratory.
Damage Assessment and Official Statement
A post-launch inspection at the Baikonur Cosmodrome confirmed “damage to several elements of the launch pad.” Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, announced that an assessment is ongoing. The agency confirmed all necessary repair parts are on hand and stated, “The damage will be repaired in the near future.”
Potential Impact on Space Station Operations
Russian analysts suggest repairs could take a week or more. A prolonged delay poses a significant risk, potentially leaving Russia unable to launch missions to the ISS. “In the worst case this could seriously affect the rotation of crewed missions and cargo flights to the ISS,” wrote analyst Georgy Trishkin on Telegram.
Commentator Vitaliy Egorov emphasized the severity, noting this is the only pad Roscosmos uses for its ISS program. He stated on Telegram, “In effect from this day Russia has lost the ability to launch humans into space, something that has not happened since 1961.”
Crew Rotation and Current Status
The newly arrived trio joins seven other crew members aboard the ISS. Separately, three crew members are scheduled to return to Earth by December 8, according to NASA. While Russia relies on its Soyuz spacecraft, NASA utilizes SpaceX’s Dragon capsule for crew transport, providing an alternative route to the station.
