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Baikonur Launch Pad Damaged During Soyuz MS-28 Liftoff; Crew Safe and Docked

On Nov. 29, a Soyuz MS-28 liftoff from Baikonur dislodged a service bay beneath the launch pad, sending debris into an exhaust trench and leaving charred structural remains. Roscosmos said it is assessing the damage and has spare parts on site to carry out repairs. The three crew members were unharmed and the Soyuz successfully docked with the ISS. Officials will announce any operational impact after the full inspection.

Baikonur Launch Pad Damaged During Soyuz MS-28 Liftoff; Crew Safe and Docked

Nov. 29 — Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome sustained damage during a Soyuz MS-28 launch that carried two Russian cosmonauts and one U.S. astronaut to the International Space Station.

Russia, which leases the Baikonur facility from Kazakhstan, said a post-launch inspection by Roscosmos confirmed damage to the launch pad after video and photographs showed debris and charred structural remains around the site.

Footage indicates a service bay beneath the pad was dislodged when the Soyuz 2.1a rocket ignited its booster engines. Part of that structure appears to have fallen into a large exhaust trench, and overhead images show burned remnants lying in the trench.

Roscosmos said an assessment of the launch complex is underway and that the damage "will be repaired in the near future." The agency added it already has the necessary equipment and spare parts at Baikonur to carry out repairs.

The incident did not injure the three crew members, and officials reported no damage to the Soyuz rocket or spacecraft. The Soyuz MS-28 successfully docked with the International Space Station later the same day.

Implications

Baikonur is currently the primary site Russia uses for crewed launches. Roscosmos' prompt inspection and available spare parts suggest repairs are likely to proceed quickly, but officials will determine any operational impact after the full assessment is complete.

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