On November 27, 2025, a crewed mission aboard Soyuz MS-28 successfully lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, sending two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS).
What seemed at first like a routine launch quickly turned into a crisis: post-launch inspection revealed that the launch had caused severe damage to the pad — specifically, the movable service platform beneath the pad collapsed into the flame trench — leaving Russia’s only active crew-rated launch pad inoperable.
What Went Wrong at Baikonur — A Critical Failure
The damaged facility is identified as Site 31/6, the only pad Russia currently uses for crewed Soyuz and cargo flights to the ISS. With the collapse, it ceases to function for human spaceflight.
Analysis suggests the service access platform — a 20-ton infrastructure used to prepare rockets and grant crew access — was either not properly retracted or its locking mechanisms failed, causing it to be thrust into the exhaust trench during liftoff.
The resulting damage reportedly destroyed critical components, including infrastructure for fueling, support services, and crew access — elements essential for future launches.
Given this, many observers argue the accident may render Russia unable to launch humans into space “for the first time since 1961.”
Mission Success — But With a Steep Price
There was a silver lining: the Soyuz MS-28 mission itself was successful. The three-person crew safely reached the ISS, where they will begin an approximately eight-month mission, conducting experiments and maintenance alongside existing station occupants.
However, while the crew’s safety was assured, the damage to the launch infrastructure casts a long shadow on Russia’s near-term human spaceflight capabilities.
Why This Matters — Implications for Russia and Global Spaceflight
Russia’s Crewed Launches Are Grounded
With Baikonur’s only active crew-launch pad out of service, all forthcoming launches of crewed or cargo Soyuz/Progress missions — including upcoming supply missions to ISS — face indefinite delay, unless alternative launch facilities are readied.
Significant Repair Required — Could Take Years
Space-industry analysts warn that restoring the damaged pad — rebuilding a complex service platform and associated support systems — may take up to two years, raising serious doubts about schedule and commitments.
Threat to Russia’s Long-Term Space Plans
The pad was slated to support future missions — including those to the planned Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), intended after the ISS’s retirement. With the infrastructure down, those plans now face major uncertainty.
Potential Need for International or Alternative Launches
If Russia cannot restore launch capability quickly, it may need to rely on foreign launch services — a dramatic reversal after decades of national launch-capability dominance.
What Comes Next — What to Watch
Repair timeline: Will Russia mobilize resources to fix or rebuild the pad — or will bureaucratic delays stretch the outage for years?
Impact on ISS logistics: With no guaranteed crew or cargo flights, ISS operations and resupply could be disrupted or shifted to other partners.
Alternative launch strategies: Possibility of re-activating older pads, transferring launches to other spaceports (if configured for crew), or leveraging international help.
Strategic implications for Russia’s space relevance: Prolonged downtime could erode Russia’s standing in global crewed space operations, allowing other nations or companies to fill the gap.
Conclusion — A Successful Launch Turned Into a Blow to Space Ambition
The 27 November Soyuz MS-28 mission proved once more that modern spaceflight remains a high-stakes endeavour: despite a smooth crew ascent and docking with the ISS, a single infrastructure failure has effectively grounded Russia’s human spaceflight program — at least temporarily.
As the world watches how quickly repairs are made, this incident serves as a stark reminder: in space, it isn’t only rockets and crews that matter — reliable ground infrastructure is just as critical.
.jpg=w437-h437-p-k-no-nu)
0 Comments