A servicing cabin collapsed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome during the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The collapse occurred at the movable fold-out structure beneath the launch pad, where work is done on the rocket’s tail section. The incident was reportedly caused by the rocket’s first-stage engine’s gas jet, which tore through part of the launch complex, The Moscow Times reported, citing The Insider on November 27.
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Georgy Trishkin, a rocket launch analyst, explained that this particular service cabin is crucial for launching Russian crewed missions to the ISS, and the incident could lead to indefinite delays for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft launches. No cosmonauts were injured, but the facility now requires repairs, which could take up to two years.
Roscosmos has confirmed damage to several elements of the launch pad but assured that repairs are underway using reserve parts.
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The collapse has left Russia temporarily unable to launch crewed missions, marking the first such disruption since 1961. Alternative to repairs would be the modernisation of Gagarin launch pad, but efforts to modernize it were hindered by the UAE’s withdrawal from the project following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to The Moscow Times.
Previously, it was reported that the European Commission is moving to formally integrate Ukraine into key European space initiatives, recognizing the crucial link between defense and secure satellite technology in wartime.
The European Commission submitted a proposal to the Council of the EU to initiate negotiations on Ukraine’s participation in the Government Satellite Communications (Govsatcom) component. This component is part of the larger EU Space Programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme.
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