
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
Historical mysteries solved by science in 2025 - 2
Nearly 16,000 New York City nurses prepare to strike as contract talks stall - 3
'Outrageous and illegal' : UNRWA slams Israel for cutting off its water, comms and electric in Gaza - 4
6 Pet Sitting Administrations for Your Cherished Pets - 5
Report in relation to renaming Herzog Park set to be withdrawn
Truly amazing Palaces: Which Is Your Number one?
Why Tourists May Want To Reconsider Traveling To This Popular Spot In Italy In 2026
The most effective method to Succeed in Your Profession with a Web based Advertising Degree
Figure out How to Modify Your Pre-assembled Home for Greatest Solace and Stylish Allure
King Charles III says he is reducing cancer treatment schedule in 2026
When fake data is a good thing – how synthetic data trains AI to solve real problems
Unpaid caregiving work can feel small and personal, but that doesn’t take away its ethical value
Uranus's small moons are dark, red, and water-poor
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launches landmark Mars mission in New Glenn rocket’s first big test













