Russia has been forced to suspend all crewed space missions after significant structural damage was discovered at the country’s sole human-launch facility, the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The incident marks the first time in more than six decades that Moscow has been left unable to send astronauts into space.
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The damage occurred during Thursday’s launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. Although the mission itself proceeded as planned—and no crew members were harmed—footage released by Roscosmos showed part of the launchpad collapsing into the exhaust trench under the force of the rocket’s engines. The three astronauts on board, including NASA’s Chris Williams and two Russian colleagues, arrived safely at the International Space Station later that evening.
In a statement to state media, Roscosmos confirmed that “a number of elements” of the launch complex had been affected and that engineers were assessing the full extent of the destruction. The agency insisted that spare components were available and promised that repairs would begin promptly. The Independent has contacted Roscosmos for further comment.
However, analysts have cast doubt on the speed of the proposed timetable, noting that vital cabling, sensors, and sections of the service bay appeared to have been destroyed. Russian space expert Vitaliy Egorov warned on Telegram that Thursday’s damage effectively leaves Russia without the capability to launch humans into orbit—an unprecedented situation since 1961. He added that officials must now decide whether to restore the compromised launchpad or accelerate upgrades to an alternative site. The Soyuz crew is scheduled to remain aboard the ISS for eight months, with their return to Earth planned for July 2026.
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Russia continues to pursue its plans for a new independent orbital station, the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), which is intended to replace its participation in the ISS once the ageing platform is retired in 2030. The launch of the first ROSS module is currently expected in 2027.
