
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
Merz visit highlights new strategic, and strained, Germany-Israel bond - 2
NASA releases new ‘Earthset’ and eclipse images taken during historic flyby of the moon - 3
5 Most Expected Film Delivery - 4
Prehistoric wolf’s gut frozen in time reveals an ice age giant - 5
How federal officials talk about health is shifting in troubling ways – and that change makes me worried for my autistic child
Unwinding History's Secrets: Looking for the Response to Antiquated Human advancements
Former biotech CEO sued over COVID vaccine alleged insider trading
Bombardier Global 8000 Enters Service
Is new Harry Styles music on the way? Fans think so, after a cryptic website and posters pop up.
Gulf countries continue to face Iran attacks as criticial energy infrastructure at risk
Iran denies launching ballistic missiles towards Kurdistan region of Iraq
Tire Brands for Senior Drivers: Guaranteeing Security and Solace
Trump said affordability is a ‘hoax’ in his Pennsylvania speech. What do the latest numbers show?
Signature Scents: A Manual for Outstanding Fragrances












