Russia’s space agency has confirmed that a launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was damaged during the liftoff of a Soyuz spacecraft that carried three crew to the International Space Station, raising questions about the near-term launch schedule at the site that Russia has relied on for more than six decades.
Roscosmos reported that the Soyuz MS-28 mission lifted off from Baikonur on November 26 and reached orbit without problems. The spacecraft carried Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev, and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. The crew docked with the station about three hours later. Roscosmos said in a statement on its official Telegram channel that the crew was healthy and the spacecraft worked as planned.
Soon after the launch, engineers inspected Launch Pad 31/6, which served as the departure point for the flight. The agency said the inspection found damage to several structural elements on the pad and that repair work would start soon. Roscosmos said all required parts were on hand and the pad would be restored in the near future.
Both The Moscow Times and Russian state media, including RIA Novosti, reported that the pad sustained damage but did not identify specific components. Roscosmos confirmed that “damage to several elements of the launch pad was detected.”
Independent analysts have stated the damage might be more serious than Roscosmos has suggested, with Anatoly Zak, who publishes technical assessments of Russian space activity at RussiaSpaceWeb, reporting that a mobile service platform may have collapsed into the flame trench below the pad during or shortly after liftoff. Zak noted that the available launch pad for Russian crew missions might be unusable until engineers confirm the structure’s stability, and that it was unclear how soon crews or cargo could fly from Baikonur if the pad requires major work.
Roscosmos has not confirmed a collapse of the platform, and it has not provided further details about the condition of the pad. The agency said the accident did not affect the MS-28 mission itself, which it described as nominal. But any impact on the pad is notable because Russia depends on Baikonur for its Soyuz crew launches. Russia leases the site from Kazakhstan through 2050 and continues to use its Soviet-era pads because Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East is not yet certified for crew flights.
Russian outlets noted that future launches could face adjustments, but none reported a confirmed delay of a Progress mission. Roscosmos has neither confirmed the schedule nor said whether that mission will move to a later date. NASA has not issued a public statement about the status of joint operations after the incident.
Russia and the United States continue to exchange seats on Soyuz and SpaceX vehicles under a 2022 agreement that allows both sides to maintain a sustained presence on the International Space Station. NASA has said the arrangement reduces risk because each side can reach the station even if one spacecraft type is grounded for technical reasons.
The new damage at Baikonur highlights the strain on Russia’s space infrastructure. The site dates to 1955 and hosted the launch of both Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin. The two crewed launch pads, known as Site 1 and Site 31, have aged under constant use and limited modernization. Russia retired Site 1 from crew flights in 2019 after heavy wear, with Site 31/6 becoming the sole pad for Soyuz crew missions.
For a number of years, Russian media have noted the need for upgrades at Baikonur. In 2019, reports citing a Baikonur source said Roscosmos was preparing to conserve Gagarin’s Start because there were no funds to modernize the pad for Soyuz-2 launches.
The new damage comes as Roscosmos operates under tighter budgets and reduced access to some imported components, according to open reporting by Russian and international outlets, with Western sanctions having limited the country’s access. Roscosmos has scaled back some science missions and shifted focus to low-cost hardware that can be built with domestic parts.
The International Space Station is also moving toward the end of its planned life. NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA have agreed to continue operations through 2030, though Russia has previously signaled it may withdraw earlier if it finishes work on a proposed national station. So far, Russia has continued its ISS commitments and has launched regular Soyuz and Progress missions despite internal budget pressure.
The Soyuz MS-28 flight used the standard three-person configuration and carried a limited set of equipment and experiments, as is typical for crewed Soyuz missions. NASA has reported that Chris Williams and the Russian cosmonauts arrived safely at the International Space Station on Thursday, with Williams having joined the Expedition crew to take part in maintenance, science work, and cargo handling.
The two Russian cosmonauts are set to support internal maintenance and research in station modules operated by Roscosmos. The Russian segment relies on Progress cargo ships for fuel, water, and oxygen deliveries. Any significant launch delay caused by repairs at Baikonur could affect resupply timing, though NASA and Roscosmos both maintain reserve stocks aboard the station that can cover short gaps.
The nature of the structural failure remains under review. Launch pads absorb large forces during liftoff as exhaust from the rocket enters the flame trench and vents sideways. Engineers inspect the pad after each launch to check for signs of wear, such as cracks or loose fittings. Many issues in past launches have been minor. A collapse of a mobile service platform would be unusual, since such structures are normally retracted before ignition.
Roscosmos said the damage does not pose a safety threat to personnel. There were no immediately available public comments from Kazakhstan’s space agency. Previous incidents at Baikonur have sometimes prompted joint inspections, as Kazakhstan owns the land and infrastructure while leasing the site to Russia.
The damaged pad lifts the stakes for Vostochny, where Russia hopes one day to shift crew flights. Roscosmos has launched a few Soyuz rockets and an Angara vehicle from Vostochny, but the site still lacks the full set of systems needed for human missions. Russia had planned the first crewed launch from Vostochny in the early 2020s, but delays in construction and testing pushed the target date back several years.
Until Vostochny is ready, Baikonur remains essential. Russia conducts all Soyuz crew launches there and most Progress cargo missions. Any long outage would increase pressure on station partners who rely on a steady chain of arrivals. NASA relies on SpaceX for most U.S. crew transport, while Progress spacecraft supply propellant used by the Russian segment to help maintain the station’s orbit. Without regular Progress visits, controllers would need to ration maneuvers.
Roscosmos said it would release more information after inspectors complete a full review. The agency said the next Soyuz and Progress spacecraft remain in preparation halls at Baikonur. Rus
The MS-28 crew is expected to stay aboard the station for about six months. Their mission continues as ground teams assess the situation at Baikonur and decide how soon the damaged pad can return to service.