Baikonur cosmodrome Sustains damage After Accomplished Soyuz Launch to ISS
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN – A Russian Soyuz spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday, delivering a new crew despite damage sustained to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome during liftoff. The mission carried Russian cosmonauts Sergey kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev, along with NASA astronaut Chris Williams, for an eight-month stay in orbit.
Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, confirmed that “damage to a number of elements of the launch pad was detected” following the launch. While repairs are expected to be undertaken promptly, some Russian space bloggers have expressed concern that the damage could disrupt future launches from Russia’s sole manned-mission site. The incident underscores the continued risks inherent in space travel and the fragility of ground infrastructure.
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft’s arrival at the ISS adds three members to the existing crew of NASA astronauts mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui; and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, alexei Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov. For Williams and Mikaev, this marks their first venture into space, while Kud-Sverchkov is undertaking his second mission.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions stemming from the war in Ukraine, space exploration remains a key area of cooperation between the United States and Russia. The ISS program,a collaborative effort involving multiple nations,exemplifies this continued partnership.
