ISS

Russia faces a significant operational challenge following damage to its primary crew launch facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The incident occurred on November 27, 2025, immediately after the successful liftoff of Soyuz MS-28, which carried two Roscosmos cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut toward the International Space Station. The mission itself proceeded nominally, with the crew arriving at the ISS on schedule. However, shortly after the Soyuz 2.1a rocket cleared the launch tower at Site 31/6, critical ground infrastructure failed catastrophically. The service platform—a vital structure located within the flame trench that supports pre-launch operations and crew access—collapsed into the trench below. Accompanying structural damage included partial destruction of the adjacent access building, with debris scattered across the facility.