An accident at Baikonur has effectively deprived Russia of the ability to launch humans into space for the first time in 60 years.
During the launch of the Soyuz MS-28, the service tower collapsed at launch pad 31.
This is the only site from which crewed missions to the ISS can be launched. Footage from the broadcast shows the structure simply caving in.
According to The Insider, the tower was torn off by the exhaust plume of the rocket’s first-stage engine. The cosmonauts were unharmed, but part of the launch complex was destroyed and will require long-term repairs.
Analysts say launches of Soyuz and Progress spacecraft are now delayed indefinitely.
Space expert Vitaly Yegorov said that as of today, Russia “has lost the ability to send humans into space.”
Restoring the launch pad could take up to two years.
https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1994137928331874718#video