Russian launch pad damaged during Soyuz liftoff to Space Station

The Soyuz 2.1a rocket carrying the Soyuz MS 28 spacecraft and its crew, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev along with NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, lifted off for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 27, 2025. (Image: (Grigory Sysoev/Sputnik/AP)

A calm morning at Baikonur turned tense quickly. A routine mission lifted into clear skies, yet trouble waited below. The launch succeeded, but the launchpad did not.

What damage occurred at the Baikonur launch site?
Roscosmos confirmed damage at the Baikonur Cosmodrome after launch. The Soyuz MS 28 mission reached the International Space Station safely. Two Russian crew and one American boarded the station soon after. A post-launch check then revealed harm to several pad structures. Roscosmos reported issues involving key launchpad elements. The agency said repairs can begin with available spare parts. Work will start once full assessments are completed.

The launchpad supports the rocket during final operations. It also holds platforms used by cosmonauts before liftoff. Such structures must endure intense heat and powerful vibrations. Russian space analysts raised concerns over possible delays. They warn repairs may take one week or even longer. Extended delays could disrupt future ISS mission schedules. Analyst Georgy Trishkin shared this concern on Telegram. He warned of risks to crew rotations and cargo flights.

How might this affect Russia's human spaceflight plans?
Baikonur currently handles all Russian crewed ISS launches. Missions usually depart twice each year from this site. Commentator Vitaliy Egorov highlighted the wider implications. He said Russia may now lack human launch capability temporarily. He noted this has not occurred since early spaceflight history. He suggested urgent repairs or pad upgrades may be needed.

The mission launched Thursday carried three new crew members. They join seven others already living aboard the station. NASA reports three astronauts are set to return by December eight. NASA continues using SpaceX Dragon capsules for its missions. Russia relies solely on Soyuz launches from Baikonur currently.

Roscosmos said the damaged pad will be fixed soon. Engineers continue assessing every affected component at the site. The situation places new pressure on Russia’s space programme.