Late last year, a Soyuz rocket launched three astronauts into orbit around the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
But there was more “blast” to 27 November explosives than expected. The launch damaged site 31 at Baikonur, Russia’s only active pad supporting crew launches to The International Space Station (ISS).
“The condition of the launch pad is currently being assessed,” Roscosmos stated, adding that “all necessary spare components are available for repair and the damage will be repaired soon.”
Site 31’s “service cabin” was severely damaged, rendering the entire launch infrastructure unavailable for use.
The true implications of the blast marks on Russia’s missile ego remained vague. Maybe there was one unusual slip in quality controlsuggested some outside experts. Whatever the cause, the outcome was unwelcome: a grounding of Russian-manned flights to the ISS.
But rockets will soon start flying from Site 31 again, if all goes according to plan.
Takes care of business
On Tuesday (March 3), Roscosmos announced that Site 31 has been repaired.
More than 150 employees from the agency’s Space Infrastructure Operations Center and representatives from four contractors have completed work at the damaged launch pad.
“2,350 square meters (25,300 square feet) of structures were prepared and painted, all fasteners were replaced with new ones, electrical equipment was completely replaced and adjusted, inspection and maintenance of service cabin components and mechanisms was performed, and more than 250 linear meters (820 feet) of welds were completed,” a Rosco statement said. according to Interfax.
The most challenging task, Roscosmos explained, was installing some of the cabin’s over 60-foot-long (19 m), 17-ton components, which were installed through the launch hatch. A special technique was developed for this patch.
Next launch
Meanwhile, the recently repaired launch pad at Baikonur is being readied to handle its next booster liftoff.
Now on the launch list – originally planned for departure in late 2025 – is an unmanned one Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft.
Scheduled for a March 22 launch, Progress will dock with and supply the International Space Station.
