Damage to Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Pad Disrupts ISS Operations

On November 27, 2025, the launch pad at Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan sustained significant damage following the liftoff of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. The mission successfully transported two Roscosmos cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev, along with NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, to the International Space Station (ISS). However, the force of the rocket's exhaust caused a mobile maintenance cabin to collapse into the flame trench below, resulting in extensive damage to the launch pad, which is the only certified site for crewed missions in Russia.

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The incident has raised concerns regarding the future of crewed and cargo missions to the ISS. NASA confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Roscosmos for safe operations. A NASA spokesperson stated, “NASA coordinates closely with its international partners, including Roscosmos, for the safe operations of the International Space Station and its crew members.” The next scheduled crewed Soyuz mission is set for July 2026, but this timeline is now uncertain due to the damage.

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In a statement, Roscosmos acknowledged the damage, asserting that “all necessary parts needed for repairs are at our disposal, and the damage will be dealt with in the near future.” However, the agency did not provide a specific timeline for repairs, leading to speculation about the potential delays in upcoming missions. The Progress MS-33 resupply mission, originally slated for December 21, has already been postponed to sometime next year.

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The incident has drawn criticism regarding the reliability of Russia's space program, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years. Jeff Manber, a senior official at Voyager Technologies, questioned the Russian leadership's commitment to repairing the launch pad and maintaining contributions to the ISS program. “How committed is the Russian leadership to fixing that launchpad and continuing the contributions to the International Space Station program?” he asked, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding future operations.

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While Roscosmos has expressed optimism about the repair process, there are concerns about the extent of the damage. Photos and reports suggest that the maintenance cabin may be beyond repair, which could further complicate the restoration of Site 31/6. Additionally, there has been no communication from Roscosmos regarding contingency plans for continuing cargo and crew missions to the ISS during the repair period.

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As the situation develops, the focus will be on the initial inspection of the launch pad and the subsequent repair efforts. The international community will be watching closely to see how Roscosmos addresses the challenges posed by this incident and its implications for ongoing ISS operations.

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• “NASA is aware Roscosmos is inspecting Launch Pad 6 at Site 31 following launch of the Soyuz MS-28 on November 27 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan,” — NASA Spokesperson

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• “All necessary parts needed for repairs are at our disposal, and the damage will be dealt with in the near future,” — Roscosmos Statement

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• “How committed is the Russian leadership to fixing that launchpad and continuing the contributions to the International Space Station program?” — Jeff Manber, Voyager Technologies

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