Soyuz Pad Apparently Damaged After Successful Launch
Following the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 mission to the International Space Station this morning, the Soyuz launch complex, Site 31, appears to have sustained damage. Towards the end of Roscosmos’ official broadcast covering the launch, the stream showed aerial video taken via drone of Site 31 where Soyuz had launched minutes prior. The video appeared to show substantial damage to the Site 31 facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, with the service cabin that sits below the pad apparently collapsed into the complex’s flame trench. Neither Roscosmos nor NASA have released public comments confirming the service structure’s collapse.
The potential impacts to ISS operations are unclear. Site 31 is the sole operational pad capable of launching Soyuz crew spacecraft and Progress cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. These Russian vehicles are only spacecraft capable of interfacing with and refueling the Russian segment of the ISS. If Site 31 is in a non-operational state, it is unclear how long it may take to restore the facility to operation. Should the pad be unable to continue operations for a prolonged period, alternative means to maintain Russian presence on the ISS and support the Russian Orbital Segment may be required.
MS-28 launched Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev alongside NASA astronaut Chris Williams at 4:27 a.m. EST on November 27th. At 10:16 a.m. EST, the three crew members safely boarded the ISS and joined the crew of Expedition 73, bringing the ISS to 10 active crew members. The ISS itself is in a nominal state, and is no immediate danger. MS-28 astronauts are expected to spend eight months aboard the ISS, before MS-29 launches in July of 2026. Uncrewed Progress mission MS-33 is currently scheduled for mid-December, and would be the next mission requiring Site 31 to launch.
This is a developing story. Space Scout will continue to monitor the situation and provide follow-up reporting as information becomes available.
