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Baikonur Cosmodrome Collapse Grounds Russian Crewed Spaceflight
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN – A recent collapse at the Baikonur Cosmodrome has temporarily halted Russia’s ability to launch crewed space missions, marking the first such disruption in over six decades, since 1961. The incident impacts Russia’s space program and its ambitions in both civilian and military space applications, including the deployment of new Arctic-monitoring satellites with potential military applications.
The disruption stems from damage to infrastructure essential for preparing and launching crewed spacecraft. While repairs are underway,a longer-term solution - modernization of the historic Gagarin launch pad – faces obstacles.Efforts to upgrade the pad have been hampered by the withdrawal of funding and support from the United Arab Emirates following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to The Moscow Times. This setback coincides with increased European efforts to integrate Ukraine into key space and defense initiatives, highlighting the growing recognition of secure satellite technology’s importance in modern warfare.
The European Commission recently proposed initiating negotiations with Ukraine for its participation in the Government Satellite communications (Govsatcom) component of the EU Space Programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme. This move underscores the strategic value of satellite communications for defense and security, especially as geopolitical tensions rise.
