Quick Read
- Immediately after the 27 November 2025 launch of Soyuz MS-28, inspections revealed severe damage to the only Baikonur launch pad capable of crewed missions.
- The movable service platform collapsed into the exhaust trench — effectively grounding Russia’s human spaceflight capability for months, possibly years.
- Experts warn this may be the first time in 60 years Moscow cannot send people into space.
Russia’s human spaceflight program faces a major setback after a launch-pad accident at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The incident occurred during the lift-off of Soyuz MS-28 on 27 November 2025.
What Happened During the Launch
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft — carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut — successfully launched and later docked with the International Space Station (ISS).
However, a post-launch inspection uncovered that a critical structure at Baikonur’s Site 31/6 — the movable service cabin/platform that allows crew access to the rocket — collapsed into the exhaust trench underneath the pad.
Why This Matters: Russia’s Only Crewed Launch Site Disabled
With this damage, Baikonur’s Site 31/6 becomes unusable for crewed launches — and since 2019, it has been Russia’s only operational pad for human missions
There are no ready backup pads for crewed spacecraft launches. Existing alternatives are configured only for cargo or satellite launches. That means Russia may be unable to send astronauts to space until repairs are completed.
Repair Timeline and What’s Next
The national space agency, Roscosmos, said that spare components are available and repair work will begin soon.
Yet space-flight analysts warn the damage is severe and reconstruction — including safety certification — could take months or even up to two years.
Implications for the ISS and Global Space Efforts
Russia’s human missions to the ISS and future Russian orbital station projects are at risk. Crewed Soyuz missions and Progress resupply flights may be postponed indefinitely until the pad is restored.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of relying on aging Soviet-era infrastructure — especially when geopolitical tensions make international cooperation more fraught. Many see this failure as a turning point for Russia’s space ambitions.