Space Station Shuffle: Departures and Deliveries

The International Space Station (ISS) is experiencing a flurry of activity as crews prepare for departures and the disposal of accumulated waste. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft, launched November 8, 2023, successfully reconnected with the ISS on December 5, 2023, after departing on November 28th for a brief free-flying period (NASA). The capsule will remain docked until March 2026, serving as a temporary storage facility for approximately 11,000 pounds of trash and unneeded cargo, which will eventually burn up harmlessly in Earth’s atmosphere.

Before the trash disposal, Russia’s Soyuz MS-27 capsule is set to return to Earth on December 8, 2023, carrying NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. The spacecraft will undock from the Prichal module and land via parachute in Kazakhstan (Spaceflight Now).

Russian Launch Capabilities Questioned After Launchpad Incident

The return of Soyuz MS-27 is occurring against a backdrop of uncertainty regarding Russia’s future launch capabilities to the ISS. Following the launch of Soyuz MS-28 on November 24, 2023, a structure collapsed at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the sole Russian launch site equipped to send astronauts and cargo to the station (Gizmodo). Repairs are underway, but the timeline for restoring the launchpad to operational status remains unclear.

This incident raises concerns about the continuity of the Russian segment of the ISS and potential impacts on future crew rotations and resupply missions. Currently, ther is no confirmed date for the launch of another Russian spacecraft to the ISS.

Baikonur Cosmodrome: A Critical Launch Facility

The Baikonur Cosmodrome,located in Kazakhstan,has been the primary launch site for the Soviet and Russian space programs since 1957. Site 31/6 is particularly crucial as it is the only facility currently capable of launching crewed soyuz missions to the ISS.The collapse of a structure at this site represents a significant setback for Russia’s space ambitions.