A Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station launched successfully on November 27 from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome. Despite the crew reaching orbit without issues, significant ground damage occurred at the launch site. The incident involved a heavy service platform dislodging during liftoff.
On November 27, a Soyuz rocket lifted off from Site 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, transporting Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, along with NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. The crew embarked on an eight-month mission to the International Space Station and docked successfully, ensuring no disruptions to their journey.
However, post-launch inspections revealed problems with the ground support systems. Roscosmos acknowledged that "damage to several launch pad components was identified" after the event, though the agency provided limited details. Video footage from the site depicted extensive destruction, including a large service platform collapsing into the flame trench below the launch table.
This platform, weighing about 20 metric tons, allows workers to access the rocket before liftoff. According to an informed source, it was not properly secured, and the rocket's thrust propelled it downward during ascent. The source described the aftermath: "There is significant damage to the pad."
The Baikonur Soyuz pad is uniquely equipped for crewed and cargo missions to the space station, raising concerns about potential delays in Russia's launch schedule. Repairs may be necessary to restore full operations, highlighting vulnerabilities in aging infrastructure at the historic cosmodrome.