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Russia’s only launch site for crewed space missions has been impacted by major structural damage during a recent space mission.

Getting into it: According to Russian authorities, the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome resulted in damage to “a number of elements of the launchpad.” The incident occurred during or immediately after liftoff, with footage and eyewitness accounts suggesting that a major structural failure took place beneath the pad. Specifically, the service cabin (a crucial platform located in the flame trench beneath the rocket) appeared to have collapsed under the force of the launch. Metal debris was seen falling into the trench during the official broadcast, indicating that some components were likely dislodged or destroyed by the rocket’s exhaust and vibrations.

Roscosmos, Russia’s state space agency, acknowledged the damage but downplayed its severity, stating that spare parts were already available and that repairs would be made quickly. Officials have stressed that the inspection process following launches is standard practice and that such damage can occur due to the immense stress imposed on the structure.

Despite this, independent Russian space commentators and analysts have raised broader concerns about the extent of the destruction. One blogger claimed that the collapse affected not just the surface-level infrastructure, but also critical systems in the service bay, including cabling, sensors, and structural supports.

The consequences of this failure are potentially far-reaching. Site 31 at Baikonur is currently the only launchpad used by Roscosmos for sending astronauts to the International Space Station, after Site 1 (Gagarin’s Start) was retired due to lack of funding. If the damage proves extensive and unrepairable in the short term, it could ground all of Russia’s human spaceflight activity for the foreseeable future, a situation not seen since the Soviet Union first sent Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961.