Spacecraft Launches and Pad Damage Highlight Recent Space Missions
TL;DR
The Baikonur Cosmodrome's Launch Pad 6 was damaged during a recent Soyuz launch to the ISS, raising concerns about its ability to support upcoming missions. While Roscosmos claims the damage can be quickly repaired, experts suggest repairs could take up to two years, potentially impacting Russia's ISS operations and crew rotations. The next scheduled launch from this pad is on December 20, with a crewed mission planned for July 2026.
- Baikonur pad damaged in Soyuz launch to ISS SpaceNews
- NASA Astronaut Chris Williams, Crewmates Arrive at Space Station NASA (.gov)
- Soyuz MS-28: Launch pad damaged as Russian rocket blasts off for space station, agency says CNN
- Russian space agency says cosmodrome damaged after joint launch with US Al Jazeera
- NASA astronaut, two cosmonauts take Thanksgiving Day ride to space station Spaceflight Now
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on SpaceNews