Finance
Russia Launches First Rocket From Repaired Baikonur Launch Pad
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia successfully launched Progress MS‑33 aboard a Soyuz‑2.1a rocket from the recently repaired Site 31 at Baikonur on March 22, reinstating its ability to send cargo—and potentially crew—to the ISS.
Russia Launches Soyuz Rocket from Repaired Baikonur Pad, Restoring ISS Access
Successful Soyuz Launch Marks Restoration of ISS Access
Background of the Baikonur Launch Pad Incident
MOSCOW, March 22 (Reuters) - Russia launched a Soyuz rocket from a repaired launch pad at its Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sunday, restoring its capability to fly to the International Space Station for the first time since the launch pad was damaged last year.
Soyuz-2.1a Rocket Launch Details
At 1200 GMT, a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft lifted off and was placed into orbit, Russia's space agency said. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the International Space Station on March 24.
Impact of the 2023 Launch Pad Damage
The launch pad had been out of commission since it was badly damaged in November when a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut on board blasted off. No one was hurt and the crew safely reached the space station, but the incident deprived Russia of its sole means of sending crew or cargo back to the ISS for months.
Alternative Launch Sites and Their Limitations
While Russia has other cosmodromes on its own territory and Baikonur has other launch sites, the damaged launch pad was the only one able to handle the Soyuz rocket that carries crew capsules and Progress cargo vehicles to the ISS.
(Reporting by Maxim RodionovEditing by Peter Graff)
Key Takeaways
- •The November 27, 2025 Soyuz MS‑28 launch damaged the mobile service platform at Baikonur’s Site 31/6, rendering Russia’s only pad for crewed and Progress cargo missions unusable (space.com).
- •Roscosmos completed extensive repairs by March 3, 2026—replacing 2,350 m² of structure, all fasteners, electrical systems, and installing a 19 m, 17‑ton service cabin component through the flame trench (spacepolicyonline.com).
- •On March 22, 2026 at 12:00 UTC, the Soyuz‑2.1a launched Progress MS‑33 from Site 31/6; the cargo ship is expected to dock with the ISS’s Poisk module on March 24 around 01:34 UTC (en.wikipedia.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia launches first rocket from repaired Baikonur launch pad
1Why was the Baikonur launch pad out of commission?
The launch pad was damaged in November during a Soyuz MS-28 launch, which made it unusable for several months.
2What spacecraft was launched from the repaired pad?
A Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft was launched.
3When is the Progress MS-33 expected to dock with the ISS?
The Progress MS-33 is expected to dock with the International Space Station on March 24.
4Did the earlier launch incident cause any casualties?
No one was hurt during the previous incident, and the crew safely reached the space station.
5Why is the repaired launch pad significant for Russia's space program?
The pad is crucial as it's the only site able to launch Soyuz rockets carrying crew and cargo to the ISS.
