BERLIN — The Baiknour pad used for the launch of the latest crew to the International Space Station has sustained damage, raising questions about its ability to support upcoming missions to the station.
The Baikonur Cosmodrome facility, known as Launch Pad 6 at Site 31 or Site 31/6, was used for the Nov. 27 launch of a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft to the ISS. The launch was a success and the spacecraft arrived safely at the station a few hours after launch.
However, reports emerged in the hours afterward that the pad itself was damaged during the launch. A service platform in the base of the pad was apparently not properly secured and fell into the flame trench below, according to images from a Roscosmos video feed.
“The launch pad was inspected, as is done every time a rocket is launched. Damage to several launch pad components was identified,” Roscosmos stated in a translated statement on social media. “The condition of the launch pad is currently being assessed.”
The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the damage, but Roscosmos claimed it could be quickly fixed. “All necessary spare components are available for repair, and the damage will be repaired shortly.”
Outside observers are not as sanguine as Roscosmos. Anatoly Zak, a longtime expert on Russian space activities, said repairing the platform could take up to two years, adding it was unclear if a temporary fix could be implemented to allow launches there to continue in the interim.
While there are several Soyuz launch facilities at Baikonur as well as the Plesetsk and Vostochny Cosmodromes, Site 31/6 is the only one currently configured to support Progress and Soyuz spacecraft launches to the ISS. If the pad is unavailable for an extended period, it raises concerns about Russia’s ability to support ISS operations, including crew rotations.
A NASA spokesperson told SpaceNews Nov. 28 that it was aware of ongoing inspections of the pad. “NASA coordinates closely with its international partners, including Roscosmos, for the safe operations of the International Space Station and its crew members,” the agency stated, referring questions about the pad to Roscosmos.
The next launch from Site 31/6 is scheduled for Dec. 20 (U.S. time), when a Soyuz-2.1a is planned to launch the Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft to the ISS. The next crewed mission from the pad is projected for July 2026, sending a crew to replace the three launched on Soyuz MS-28.