Sat Nov 29 12:51:36 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it:
Summary:
The article, published in The Hindu’s e-paper on November 29, 2025, reports on the recent damage to a launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Baikonur, a spaceport leased and operated by Russia, has a rich history as the launch site for pivotal Soviet space missions. A recent incident involving a Soyuz-2.1a rocket during the Soyuz MS-28 mission on November 27 caused damage to Site 31/6, forcing the suspension of crewed launches. Engineers are currently assessing the damage and planning repairs, while Russia continues to develop alternative launch sites within its own territory.
News Article:
Baikonur Cosmodrome Suffers Damage, Crewed Launches Suspended
Baikonur, Kazakhstan – A launch site at the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan has been damaged, leading to the suspension of crewed launches, according to The Hindu e-Paper. The incident occurred on November 27, 2025, during the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 mission, when a Soyuz-2.1a rocket damaged Site 31/6.
The damage, which included a service platform collapsing into the flame trench, has prompted authorities to halt crewed operations at the site while engineers assess the extent of the damage and formulate a repair plan.
Baikonur, currently leased and operated by Russia, holds immense significance in the history of space exploration. It served as the launch site for Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, and Vostok 1, the mission that carried Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.
Kazakhstan retains ownership of the spaceport under agreements that extend until 2050. However, Russia is reportedly developing alternative launch sites within its own territory. The incident raises questions about the future of crewed launches from Baikonur, although repairs are planned to allow future missions.
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