
A launch pad at Russia’s main space complex was damaged during Thursday’s launch of a mission carrying two Russians and an American to the International Space Station, Moscow’s space agency announced.
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft successfully docked with the space station and the three crew members had boarded, Roscosmos said.
But a post-launch inspection at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan revealed “damage to several elements of the launch pad,” according to a statement from Roscosmos, which still uses the space facility in its former Soviet neighbor.
“An assessment of the condition of the launch complex is currently underway,” it said, adding that all parts needed to repair the pad are available.
“The damage will be repaired in the near future.”
The launch pad contains support systems for the rocket and a structure that allows cosmonauts to access their capsule as it sits atop a Soyuz rocket.
Launch pads must be capable of withstanding extreme heat, air pressure and vibrations as a rocket takes flight.
Russian analysts said repairs to the launch pad could take a week or longer. And any lengthy delay could leave Russia unable to launch missions to the space station, they said.
“In the worst case this could seriously affect the rotation of crewed missions and cargo flights to the ISS,” analyst and blogger Georgy Trishkin wrote on Telegram.
Typically, ISS crew are launched roughly every six months from Baikonur.
“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,” commentator Vitaliy Egorov wrote on Telegram.
“In effect from this day Russia has lost the ability to launch humans into space, something that has not happened since 1961. Now it will be necessary to quickly repair this launch table or modernize another one,” Egorov wrote.
Besides Russia’s Soyuz craft, NASA uses SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to take crew to the ISS.
The three men aboard the mission that lifted off Thursday join seven other crew already orbiting on the ISS.
Three are scheduled to return to Earth by December 8, according to NASA.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
latest_posts
- 1
Financial plan Cordial Home Redesigns That Add Worth - 2
Building a Flourishing Business: Illustrations from Business people - 3
The Red Sea strategy: What does Israel stand to gain from recognizing Somaliland? - 4
Step by step instructions to Guarantee the Life span of Your Dental Inserts: Support and Care Guide - 5
Winter virus season so far is not too bad, but doctors worry about suffering to come
Tech Devices 2023: The Most blazing Arrivals of the Year
Support Your Investment funds with These Individual accounting Thoughts
How 2025 became the year of comet: The rise of interstellar 3I/ATLAS, an icy Lemmon and a cosmic SWAN
Astronomers detect rare 'free floating' exoplanet 10,000 light-years from Earth
CDC clarifies stance on vaccines and autism, stating no evidence supports the link
Accomplishing Balance between fun and serious activities: Procedures for a Better Life
Triple polar vortex to plunge central and eastern U.S. into Arctic cold through mid-December
What loving-kindness meditation is and how to practice it in the new year
Carina Nebula shines with white-blue stars | Space photo of the day for Jan. 5, 2026












