Finance
Russia says damaged launch pad at baikonur cosmodrome has been repaired
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
Roscosmos has completed repairs on the Soyuz-capable launch Pad 31/6 at Baikonur, restoring Russia’s only operational platform for Soyuz crewed and Progress cargo missions. The first launch from the repaired pad is slated for March 22.
Russia Completes Repairs on Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Pad for ISS Missions
Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Pad Restoration and Its Importance
Completion of Repair Work
MOSCOW, March 3 (Reuters) - Russia's space agency said on Tuesday that repair work had been completed at a damaged section of a launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan that is critical to Moscow's space programme, Russian state media reported.
Incident Details
The pad was badly damaged in November when a Russian Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut on board blasted off.
Upcoming Launch Schedule
The RIA state news agency cited Roscosmos as saying that the first launch from the repaired pad was scheduled for March 22.
Strategic Significance of Launch Pad 31
Unique Capabilities of the Pad
While Russia has other cosmodromes on its own territory and Baikonur has other launch sites, the damaged launch pad - number 31 - is the only one able to handle launches of the Soyuz rocket and crew capsule as well as the cargo-only Progress vehicle, which are crucial for the International Space Station.
Role in International Space Station Missions
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Key Takeaways
- •Launch Pad 31/6 at Baikonur was severely damaged during the Soyuz MS‑28 launch on November 27, 2025, when the mobile service platform collapsed into the flame trench, temporarily halting crewed and cargo missions (en.wikipedia.org).
- •Repair work accelerated over winter involved over 130 Roscosmos workers in two shifts, with spare parts already on site; officials initially targeted restoration by end of February 2026 (russianspaceweb.com).
- •Roscosmos now confirms the pad is repaired, with the next launch scheduled for March 22; Pad 31/6 remains the only facility capable of launching Soyuz and Progress vehicles to the ISS (en.wikipedia.org).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia says damaged launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome has been repaired
1What was damaged at the Baikonur cosmodrome?
A section of launch pad 31 was badly damaged during a Soyuz MS-28 launch in November.
2Why is launch pad 31 important?
Launch pad 31 is the only pad at Baikonur that can handle launches for Soyuz rockets, crew capsules, and Progress cargo vehicles essential for ISS missions.
3When is the first launch from the repaired pad scheduled?
The first launch from the repaired pad is scheduled for March 22.
4Who operates the Baikonur cosmodrome?
The Baikonur cosmodrome is operated by Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, though it is located in Kazakhstan.
5Who was aboard the Soyuz MS-28 during the incident?
The Soyuz MS-28 carried two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut.
