Before a Soyuz launch Thursday someone forget to secure a 20-ton service platform
On Thursday, a Soyuz rocket successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying a crew of three astronauts: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, alongside NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. This mission marks the beginning of an eight-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where the astronauts will engage in various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks. The launch itself proceeded smoothly, with the crew arriving safely at the ISS shortly after liftoff, contributing to the ongoing collaboration between international space agencies.
However, the launch was not without its challenges. Reports emerged of significant issues with the ground systems that support the rocket’s pre-launch processing at Site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. While the launch was executed without incident, the Russian space corporation responsible for the Soyuz program acknowledged that damage was detected on several components of the launch pad during routine inspections. In a brief statement on Telegram, they reassured the public that such inspections are standard practice and that the condition of the launch pad is currently under assessment. This incident raises concerns about the reliability of ground systems, which are critical for ensuring the safety and success of space missions. As the space community continues to push the boundaries of exploration, maintaining robust infrastructure is essential for future endeavors.
A Soyuz rocket launched on Thursday carrying Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, as well as NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, for an eight-month mission to the International Space Station. The trio of astronauts arrived at the orbiting laboratory without incident.
However, on the ground, there was a serious problem during the launch with the ground systems that support processing of the vehicle before liftoff at Site 31, located at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
In
a terse statement
issued Thursday night on the social media site Telegram, the Russian space corporation that operates Soyuz appeared to downplay the incident: “The launch pad was inspected, as is done every time a rocket is launched. Damage to several launch pad components was identified. Damage can occur after launch, so such inspections are mandatory worldwide. The launch pad’s condition is currently being assessed.”
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