Moscow, Nov 28 (LatestNewsX) – The Russian space programme could face a significant pause after a major part of a launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome was heavily damaged when Soyuz MS‑28 blasted off to the International Space Station.
The incident raises the worry that Russia might be forced to halt human spaceflights for a time, a first in decades. Although the Soyuz MS‑28 capsule, which carried two Russian cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut, launched successfully and docked with the ISS on November 27, 2025, an inspection shortly after the launch revealed a serious problem on the ground: a movable service cabin – the structure that gives crew members access to the rocket – collapsed into the exhaust trench beneath the pad during liftoff.
This cabin is vital for both crewed Soyuz missions and Progress cargo launches. Since Baikonur is Russia’s only operating launch site for sending humans to the ISS, damage to it directly threatens the continuity of the country’s human‑spaceflight program.
Roscosmos said the launch infrastructure suffered damage to multiple components and that repair work would start right away. The agency also noted that spare parts are available. Still, analysts point out that rebuilding the complex could take months, or even up to two years, depending on the extent of the damage and the safety checks required.
A delay of that magnitude would effectively shut down Moscow’s capacity to conduct crewed flights. Baikonur has been in continuous use since the 1960s, so this incident marks an unprecedented disruption to Russia’s space operations.
With the site offline, planned Soyuz and Progress missions could be postponed indefinitely. That may prompt Moscow to speed up the development of the Vostochny Cosmodrome or look for international partnerships to preserve access to low‑Earth orbit.
Roscosmos confirmed that the Soyuz MS‑28 crew currently aboard the ISS is safe. Yet the event highlights the difficulties of relying on aging Soviet‑era infrastructure and underlines the geopolitical complexities surrounding Baikonur, which sits in Kazakhstan but remains central to Russia’s space ambitions.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
