Launch pad damaged as Russian rocket blasts off toward International Space Station

Launch incident at Baikonur

A launch pad at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was damaged during the Thursday liftoff of a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft heading to the International Space Station (ISS), according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The spacecraft carried two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut and lifted off from Russia’s main crewed launch complex at Baikonur.

Mission outcome

Roscosmos reported that the Soyuz MS-28 successfully docked with the ISS and all three crew members safely boarded the station. The agency emphasized that the in-flight phase of the mission proceeded normally despite the ground infrastructure damage discovered afterward.

Nature of the damage

A post-launch inspection at Baikonur revealed damage to several structural and technical elements of the launch pad used for the mission. Roscosmos stated that an assessment of the launch complex is underway and that all necessary components for repairs are available.

The affected launch pad includes critical support systems for the Soyuz rocket and the access tower that allows crew members to enter the spacecraft on top of the vehicle. Such pads are engineered to tolerate extreme heat, pressure, and strong vibrations during liftoff, making any structural damage a serious issue for future operations.

Repair timeline and risks

Russian experts and commentators suggested that repairs to the damaged pad could take at least a week and potentially longer. They warned that prolonged downtime might disrupt Russia’s ability to launch both crewed and cargo missions to the ISS.

In the worst case, analysts cautioned that the damage could seriously affect the rotation of crewed missions and resupply flights to the space station.

Strategic importance of the pad

Launches of ISS crews from Baikonur typically occur roughly every six months, forming the backbone of Russia’s human spaceflight schedule. Commentators noted that this is currently the only launch pad Roscosmos uses for ISS missions and that it was also intended to support future flights to the planned Russian Orbital Station.

One space analyst argued that, as of now, Russia has effectively temporarily lost the ability to send humans into orbit until this pad is restored or another complex is upgraded. Experts stressed the need for urgent repairs or rapid modernization of an alternative launch pad to avoid extended interruptions in crew access to space.

Author’s summary: Damage to Baikonur’s main crewed launch pad after a successful Soyuz ISS mission forces Russia to rush repairs or upgrade another site to keep human spaceflight on schedule.

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CNN on MSN CNN on MSN — 2025-11-28

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