MOSCOW, March 3 (Reuters) - Russia's space agency said on Tuesday that repair work had been completed at a damaged section of a launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan that is critical to
Russia Completes Repairs on Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Pad for ISS Missions
Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Pad Restoration and Its Importance
Completion of Repair Work
MOSCOW, March 3 (Reuters) - Russia's space agency said on Tuesday that repair work had been completed at a damaged section of a launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan that is critical to Moscow's space programme, Russian state media reported.
Incident Details
The pad was badly damaged in November when a Russian Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut on board blasted off.
Upcoming Launch Schedule
The RIA state news agency cited Roscosmos as saying that the first launch from the repaired pad was scheduled for March 22.
Strategic Significance of Launch Pad 31
Unique Capabilities of the Pad
While Russia has other cosmodromes on its own territory and Baikonur has other launch sites, the damaged launch pad - number 31 - is the only one able to handle launches of the Soyuz rocket and crew capsule as well as the cargo-only Progress vehicle, which are crucial for the International Space Station.
Role in International Space Station Missions
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
