Baikonur Launch Site Damage Affects ISS Crew Mission

Soyuz 2.1a rocket launched at 12:28pm Moscow time from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Roscosmos reports damage to Baikonur launch pad elements, repairs underway with reserves available.
Crew includes Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikaev, and Chris Williams (first spaceflights for last two).
Mission lasts eight months aboard International Space Station.
Some Russian bloggers warn Baikonur may be unusable soon, risking future launches.
ISS operations depend on access, crew in good health, maintaining NASA cooperation.

Space | Cooperation | Launch

United States | Russia | Kazakhstan

Chris Williams | Sergey Kud-Sverchkov | Sergey Mikaev

1 month ago