Russian Rocket Launch Damages Pad During Blast Off to Space Station Agency Reports
A recent launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was marred by a mishap. A Russian Soyuz MS-28 mission, which transported two Russians and one American to the International Space Station (ISS), has caused significant damage to its launch pad.
Launch Details
The Soyuz MS-28 successfully docked with the ISS after lift-off. All three crew members are now onboard the station. However, an inspection post-launch revealed damage to several elements of the launch pad.
Condition of the Launch Pad
Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, announced that it is currently assessing the extent of the damage. Fortunately, all necessary materials for repairs are readily available.
- The damage is being evaluated.
- Repairs are expected to be completed soon.
Impact of the Damage
Experts suggest that repairs could take at least a week or longer. This delay could significantly affect Russia’s ability to conduct future space missions.
Analyst Georgy Trishkin warned that prolonged repairs could hinder crew rotations and cargo flights to the ISS. He emphasized the importance of the launch pad, stating:
- “This is the only launch pad Roscosmos uses for the ISS program.”
- “Any delay would be unprecedented since Russia has maintained human spaceflights since 1961.”
Future Launch Plans
In addition to crewed missions, this launch pad was slated for future projects, including launches to a new Russian Orbital Station. Consequently, if repairs are not expedited, Russia risks losing its human launch capabilities.
While Russia relies on Soyuz for its missions, NASA also employs SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for transporting crew to the ISS. The recent mission adds three crew members to the existing seven already stationed on the ISS, with three expected to return to Earth by December 8.
