Launch pad damaged as Russian rocket blasts off for space station, agency says

Author's Summary

Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad sustained damage during a Soyuz spacecraft liftoff on Thursday, carrying two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut to the ISS, though Roscosmos states repairs are underway with parts available. (148 characters)

Incident Overview

A launch pad at Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome was damaged during Thursday's Soyuz MS-28 launch to the International Space Station.

The spacecraft successfully docked, enabling the crew—two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut—to board, per Roscosmos reports.

Damage Details

Post-launch checks revealed harm to several launch pad components, including likely destruction of the service cabin for rocket access.

Roscosmos confirmed: "Damage to a number of launch pad elements was detected," noting such issues are routine and inspections standard.

The condition of the launch complex is currently being assessed. All the necessary spare parts are available for restoration, and the damage will be repaired in the near future.

Implications

This pad serves as Russia's sole site for crewed ISS missions, potentially delaying future launches that occur roughly every six months.

Experts suggest repairs could take a week or more, risking Russia's human spaceflight capacity until resolved.

more

CNN on MSN CNN on MSN — 2025-11-28

More News