Russia’s only crewed-mission launch site has suffered major damage following a rocket launch on Thursday.
The Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan will be unable to host launches until repairs are made, according to the space agency Roscosmos, marking the first time in decades that Russia has lost the ability to send people to space.
The launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft was otherwise successful, with none of the crew members injured.
The three-person crew, which included Nasa astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian crewmates, made it safely to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday evening.
Roscosmos shared footage of the launch, which showed part of the launchpad collapse into an exhaust trench below as a result of the rocket’s blast.
The space agency said that “damage to a number of elements of the launchpad was detected” following the launch.
“The launch complex’s condition is currently being assessed,” Roscosmos told state media. “All necessary backup components are available for restoration, and the damage will be repaired in the near future.”
The Independent has reached out to Roscosmos for more information.
Analysts have questioned the timeframe for repairs, with critical cabling, sensors and other sections of the launchpad’s service bay believed to be destroyed.
“This is the only launchpad Roscosmos uses for the ISS program, and in the future it was supposed to be used for launches to the Russian Orbital Station,” Russian space 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 launchpad or modernise another one.”
The Soyuz crew will spend eight months aboard the ISS before returning to Earth in July 2026.
Russia is currently developing its own independent orbital outpost, called the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), with the ISS set to be decommissioned in 2030.
The first ROSS module is planned for launch in 2027.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Last supermoon of the year, the cold moon, seen across the U.S.: See the photos - 2Party Urban areas of the World
- 3Figure out How to Explore Land Close to 5G Pinnacles
- 4‘The White Lotus’ sparked online interest in risky anxiety pills, study says
- 5Misremembering might actually be a sign your memory is working optimally
- Make your choice for the music application with the most amicable connection point!
- How food assistance programs can feed families and nourish their dignity
- Pick Your Favored method of transportation
- Orcas seen hunting great white sharks to eat their livers in drone footage recorded in Mexico
- Instructions to Guarantee Kids Foster Solid Dental Propensities
- 41 Young Men Die in South Africa After Circumcision Initiation
- SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on its 150th Falcon 9 mission of the year
- How to identify animal tracks, burrows and other signs of wildlife in your neighborhood
- Top 20 Wellbeing and Wellness Applications for a Sound Way of life
