Russian Launch Pad Damaged During Rocket Liftoff
- Russia, which leases the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan, confirmed the damage in a statement released following the November 28, 2025 launch.
- Roscosmos indicated that all necessary equipment and parts for the repairs are already available at the facility.
- Video footage of the launch revealed that a service bay situated beneath the launch pad became dislodged as the Soyuz 2.1a rocket's engines ignited.
Baikonur Cosmodrome Damaged During November 2025 Soyuz Launch
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– Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome sustained damage during teh launch of a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one U.S. astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS).
Launch Pad Damage Confirmed
Russia, which leases the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan, confirmed the damage in a statement released following the November 28, 2025 launch. Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, stated that an assessment of the launch complex is underway and repairs will be conducted “in the near future.”
Roscosmos indicated that all necessary equipment and parts for the repairs are already available at the facility.
What Happened During Liftoff?
Video footage of the launch revealed that a service bay situated beneath the launch pad became dislodged as the Soyuz 2.1a rocket’s engines ignited. Business Insider reported that debris from the bay fell into the launchpad’s exhaust trench. Russian state media also published video showing debris being propelled upwards during the launch.
Roscosmos released an overhead photograph illustrating the burned remains of a substantial structure within the exhaust trench.
No Impact on Crew or Spacecraft
Despite the damage to the launch pad infrastructure, the soyuz MS-28 spacecraft and its three crew members-two Russian cosmonauts and NASA astronaut loral O’Hara-were unharmed. The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on November 28, 2025, as planned.CNN reported on the prosperous docking.
Baikonur’s Strategic Importance
The Baikonur cosmodrome currently represents the sole launch facility available to Russia for sending crewed missions into space. The damage caused by the rocket exhaust blast underscores the critical role this facility plays in Russia’s space program.the cosmodrome has a long and storied history, originally built by the Soviet Union in 1957 and used for many of the first human spaceflights, including Yuri Gagarin’s historic orbit in 1961.
Future implications and Repair timeline
While Roscosmos has stated repairs will be conducted “in the near future,” the exact timeline for restoring the launch pad to full operational capacity remains unclear. The incident raises questions about the long-term maintenance and resilience of the aging infrastructure at Baikonur. Further assessments will be needed to determine the extent of the damage and the resources required for a complete repair.