Critical Launchpad Damage Threatens ISS Missions
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN – November 29, 2023 – A damaged launchpad at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, the sole facility capable of launching crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS), poses a significant challenge to ongoing operations.The incident occurred following a recent Soyuz flight and could disrupt future crew and cargo deliveries, potentially impacting the long-term viability of the orbiting laboratory.
The compromised Site 31, originally constructed for intercontinental ballistic missiles and modernized in 2005 for Soyuz-2 rockets, is essential for transporting astronauts to the ISS. While SpaceX can manage some crew and cargo transport, critical maintenance tasks – specifically, refueling Russian module engines – depend on Russian spacecraft launched from Baikonur. Roscosmos estimates repairs could take up to two years, tho the agency maintains spares are available, suggesting the timeframe may represent a worst-case scenario.
The damage throws the scheduled December 19 launch of the next Progress freighter into doubt. this unmanned cargo vessel is vital for resupplying the ISS with essential provisions and equipment. A similar upgrade planned for the historic Site 1 (Gagarin’s Start) was previously cancelled, a decision Roscosmos may now be reconsidering given the current predicament.
Potential solutions include sourcing spare parts from other launch facilities, including a mothballed site at Arianespace’s Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. NASA has yet to comment on the implications of a potential delay to the Progress mission. The situation underscores the ISS’s reliance on international cooperation and the fragility of its logistical infrastructure.
