On November 27, a serious accident occurred at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, preventing Russia from launching payloads and crews into space. Shortly after the launch of the Soyuz MS28 mission at 09:27:57 UTC (4:27:57 a.m. EST; 1:27:57 a.m. PST) from Site 31/6 at the launch center, drone footage showed mobile maintenance cabin 8U216 lying upside down in the flame pit. Fortunately, the launch was successful and the crew – cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams – arrived safely at the International Space Station (ISS) a few hours later.
Still, the collapse of this maintenance cabin means that Russia’s only launch site capable of launching missions to the ISS is out of commission. While there are other launch facilities in Russia, such as the Plesetsk Cosmodrome near Arkhangelsk (northern Russia), the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, or Gagarin’s launch at Baikonur, they are either unable to reach the ISS, unable to meet the capacity to launch crews, or unable to conduct launches at all. As a result, Russia is currently unable to transport crews and payloads to the ISS using Soyuz or Progress spacecraft.
In a statement released via Telegram, Roscosmos acknowledged the accident while emphasizing the success of the mission:
The space rocket launched without incident. The spacecraft has successfully docked with the International Space Station. The crew is on board and in good health. The launch pad was inspected, as before every rocket launch. Damage was discovered to several components of the launch pad. Damage can occur after launch, so such inspections are mandatory worldwide. The condition of the launch pad is currently being assessed. All replacement components required for the repair are available and the damage will be repaired shortly.
*Drone footage from Site 31/6 before (top) and after (bottom) launch showing damage to the maintenance cabin. Photo credit: Katya Pavlushchenko via X*
The 8U216 is a mobile metal platform weighing over 130 tons (144 US tons) that is deployed beneath the launch pad during launch preparations, including engine inspection, removal of protective covers, and installation of “matches” (pyrotechnic devices). The structure was originally manufactured in the 1960s and similar service cabins are still manufactured for other Soyuz launch complexes in Russia today. According to the launch crew’s report, the pre-launch preparations went without incident and the cabin was then returned to its niche.
However, post-launch investigations revealed that the launch caused pressure differences between the space under the launch pad and the alcove housing the maintenance cabin. As a result, the service cabin was pulled out of the niche and thrown into the flame pit about 20 meters below. The inspections also revealed that the cab may not have been properly secured or the locks securing it may have failed. Some experts have stated that the damage to the maintenance cabin was too extensive to be repaired and that it would either need to be replaced or completely rebuilt.
As Roscosmos stated, the necessary parts are available in Russia, and NASASpaceFlight recently noted that sources from the Russian space industry have confirmed this. The space agency could also choose to dismantle the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 maintenance cabin, which consists of two launch pads that have launched R7 rockets since the 1960s. There is no consensus as to when Site 31 will return to service, but estimates range from several months to three years.
This range of estimates is due to two things: 1) the assumption that the cab needs to be replaced, and 2) whether other components were damaged in the accident and also need to be repaired/replaced. This second point alone requires an inspection lasting several months, and Roscosmos will have to carry out at least one unmanned launch after replacing the maintenance cabin. In any case, this accident means that certain planned missions have to be postponed. This includes the cargo launch of Progress MS-33, scheduled for December 21, 2025, and could delay the next manned mission to the ISS, MS-29, scheduled for July 14, 2026.
*The maintenance cabin at location 31/6. Image credit: TyazhMash/NASASpaceflight.com*
Due to the above-mentioned limitations of its other facilities, Roscosmos will not be able to shift its flights to other launch sites. Therefore, Roscosmos has no choice but to completely replace the maintenance cabin and will have to postpone all manned flights to the ISS for the time being. In the meantime, they may attempt to launch the cargo ship Progress from their Vostochny cosmodrome, but major modifications will be required before this can happen. Russia will no longer be able to launch manned ships from the Korou cosmodrome after Roscosmos withdrew its personnel from the European spaceport in French Guiana.
Serious accidents are not uncommon at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and this is hardly the worst it has ever seen. This “honor” belongs to the Nedelin disaster, which occurred on October 24, 1960, during the test of an intercontinental R-16 rocket, when the rocket exploded due to the accidental ignition of its second stage engines. With more than 54 reported fatalities (which would not be known until decades later), this remains the deadliest disaster in the history of space travel.
Nevertheless, Roscosmos could currently do without disrupting launch capability. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has faced international sanctions that have significantly impacted Roscosmos. Aside from the many commercial contracts the agency has lost, there is also the termination of collaborative agreements to develop scientific tools and technical support. In addition, Roscosmos has either canceled several lucrative joint ventures or had international partners withdraw from them.
These include the *ExoMars 2020* mission, a joint venture with ESA, and the Venus mission Venera-D, a planned collaboration with NASA. Roscosmos has also lost the launch service contracts it had for four ESA missions: the *Galileo M10 and M11* navigation satellites, the Euclid space telescope and the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite. These missions were originally intended to be launched using Soyuz rockets, but have since been transferred to other launch vehicles with international partners.
Further reading: NASASpaceflight
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