"Shortly after a Soyuz capsule carrying a three-man crew -- Russians Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, and American Christopher Williams -- blasted off on November 27 en route to the International Space Station, officials reported damage to the launch pad."
"The Russian space agency Roscosmos downplayed the seriousness of the damage. "During the routine inspection of the launch pad after the launch, a number of elements were found to be damaged," the agency reported. The problem will "be repaired in the near future.""
"Located in the windswept steppes of western Kazakhstan, and leased under a long-term contract, the venerable Baikonur complex is Russia's only facility for sending people into orbit. It served an essential purpose as the primary facility for launching people and equipment for around a decade after the United States suspended its space shuttle. Its importance was diminished in recent years as private space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have increased capacity and signed contracts with the US agency NASA to supply the station."
Baikonur's main launch pad sustained damage during a Soyuz crewed launch, prompting emergency repairs and a suspension of all manned launches from the facility. The Soyuz carried Russians Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev and American Christopher Williams; the crew arrived at the International Space Station without incident. Roscosmos said a post-launch inspection found damaged elements and that repairs will be carried out soon. Baikonur, leased in western Kazakhstan, remains Russia's sole manned-launch site. An alternative Far Eastern complex, Vostochny, has faced cost overruns and corruption, delaying manned operations.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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