A launch pad at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan sustained damage during the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on Thursday, which successfully carried two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission marked a significant achievement as the spacecraft docked with the ISS, allowing the crew members to board the station without incident, according to a statement from Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency.
Following the launch, a thorough inspection revealed “damage to several elements of the launch pad.” Roscosmos confirmed that an assessment of the launch complex’s condition is currently underway. The agency noted that all necessary parts for repairs are readily available, stating, “The damage will be repaired in the near future.”
Potential Impact on Future Missions
The launch pad plays a crucial role in supporting rocket operations, providing essential systems for the Soyuz rocket and facilitating access for cosmonauts to their capsule. These structures are designed to endure extreme heat, air pressure, and vibrations during liftoff. Russian analysts have suggested that repairs could take a week or longer, which raises concerns about the potential impact on upcoming missions.
Georgy Trishkin, an analyst and blogger, expressed that a prolonged repair period could hinder Russia’s ability to launch missions to the ISS, stating, “In the worst case, this could seriously affect the rotation of crewed missions and cargo flights to the ISS.” Typically, crewed missions to the ISS are launched approximately every six months from Baikonur.
Vitaliy Egorov, another commentator, highlighted the significance of the damage, remarking, “This is the only launch pad Roscosmos uses for the ISS program, and in the future, it was supposed to be used for launches to the Russian Orbital Station.” He emphasized that this incident effectively means Russia has lost the capability to launch humans into space, a situation not seen since 1961.
Current Crew and Future Launches
In addition to the three astronauts aboard the Soyuz MS-28, there are currently seven crew members residing on the ISS. According to NASA, three of these crew members are scheduled to return to Earth by December 8, 2023. While Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft continues to play a vital role in manned spaceflight, NASA has also been utilizing SpaceX‘s Dragon spacecraft for crew transport to the ISS.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on the swift repair of the launch pad to restore Russia’s ability to conduct human spaceflights safely and efficiently.
