Russia&rsquo;s human spaceflight programme has suffered a significant setback after a key launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome was severely damaged during the Soyuz MS-28 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut, launched and docked with the ISS on November 27. 
While the mission itself was successful, post-launch inspections revealed extensive structural damage on the ground. 
A movable service cabin, an essential crew-access structure, collapsed into the exhaust trench beneath the pad during liftoff.
The damaged cabin is critical not only for crewed Soyuz launches but also for Progress cargo missions. 
As Baikonur remains Russia&rsquo;s sole operational site for sending humans into orbit, the incident poses an immediate challenge to the continuity of crewed flights.
Roscosmos confirmed that &ldquo;multiple components&rdquo; of the launch infrastructure had been affected and said repair work would begin immediately. 
The agency indicated that spare parts were available, though space experts warn that full restoration could take anywhere from several months to two years, depending on the extent of the structural damage and mandatory safety assessments.
A prolonged outage at Baikonur would effectively halt Russia&rsquo;s ability to conduct crewed launches for the first time in decades. 
The launch complex, in continuous use since the 1960s, now faces one of the most serious disruptions in its operational history.
If repairs are lengthy, upcoming Soyuz and Progress missions may face delays or indefinite postponements. 
The situation could prompt Moscow to accelerate development at the Vostochny Cosmodrome or explore international alternatives to maintain access to low-Earth orbit.
Roscosmos confirmed that the crew currently aboard the ISS is safe.
The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of aging Soviet-era infrastructure and highlights the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Baikonur, which is located in Kazakhstan but remains central to Russia&rsquo;s space operations.
&mdash;IANS

Damaged Baikonur launch pad after Soyuz liftoff

Damage to Baikonur pad raises fears of major delays in Russia’s crewed space missions

Baikonur Pad Damaged In Soyuz Launch

Damage to Baikonur pad raises fears of major delays in Russia’s crewed space missions

November 28, 2025 | 16:32 IST