By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, an accident caused significant damage to the launch pad, including the collapse of the mobile service cabin. Footage suggests a service module remained in the rocket’s exhaust duct, contributing to the incident. The affected launch pad is the only operational platform for crewed missions to the ISS, potentially delaying all future Soyuz and Progress flights. Russia’s State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS has acknowledged the damage and stated repairs will be conducted, however, no timeline has been announced.
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Russia loses ability to send humans into space for the first time in 60 years. Wow, that’s a pretty significant headline, isn’t it? It really makes you pause and consider the implications of such a development. For decades, Russia, or the Soviet Union before it, was a major player in space exploration. They were the first to put a satellite in orbit, the first to send a human into space, and they racked up a number of other impressive firsts. Now, apparently, they’ve lost the ability to launch humans into orbit, which, if true, marks a major shift in the global space landscape.
The writing was arguably on the wall. Sanctions, economic struggles, and quality control issues have been plaguing Russia for a while now. When you factor in the war in Ukraine, which has undeniably strained their resources and diverted attention, it’s perhaps not surprising that their space program would suffer. There’s a certain feeling that they were going to lose this capability eventually, and maybe this is just the culmination of a long, slow decline.
The loss of this ability also highlights the crucial role that Ukraine played in the Soviet Union’s space program. Apparently, Ukrainians were instrumental in designing the nuclear missile shield of the USSR, and their contributions were critical to the development of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles like the SS-18 Satan. The fact that Russia’s attempts to replicate Ukrainian-made technology, such as the Sarmat ICBM, have failed repeatedly, speaks volumes. It’s ironic that Ukraine, now in conflict with Russia, was once so vital to its military and space prowess.
Let’s not forget the recent incident with the launch facility itself. The image of the collapsed gantry, that large structure used to support the rocket during launch, is quite striking. It makes you wonder how that kind of failure even occurs. It’s a visual metaphor for the state of their space program perhaps, a crumbling infrastructure reflecting a deeper problem.
The situation is likely exacerbated by a lack of trust in Russia’s capabilities. A statement claiming that “all necessary spare parts are available” sounds highly suspect when you consider the rampant corruption that reportedly exists within Russia. Is that statement even believable? It’s hard to imagine, given the well-documented issues with corruption that have plagued the country for years.
The United States, for example, relied on Russia to send astronauts to the International Space Station after the Space Shuttle program was retired. If Russia can no longer launch humans into space, it raises questions about the future of the ISS, and the US space program. This event highlights just how interconnected these space programs are.
There’s a prevailing sense of good riddance from many quarters, seeing this as a positive development, perhaps hoping it leads to less space debris. There’s an undeniable undercurrent of schadenfreude, too, especially given Russia’s current geopolitical situation. Space may not want them, as some would say.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the incredible contributions of Ukraine to the Soviet space program. A Ukrainian was the head of the Soviet space program, Sergei Korolev, and he oversaw the launch of the first man-made object, the first living creature, the first human, and the first woman into space. He also designed the Soyuz capsule, which Russia continues to use.
Korolev’s story is particularly poignant. He was a brilliant engineer who was pulled from a gulag, and the USSR seemingly killed its own golden goose. He died due to complications from surgery related to injuries sustained in a Soviet gulag. This untimely death, and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet shuttle program, illustrates the devastating consequences of the Soviet regime’s internal conflicts and the loss of talent.
It’s also worth noting the symbolic significance of some of the names used by Russia for its military equipment. The “Satan” ICBM, for example, is a powerful name. The current situation suggests that they are not meeting the challenge posed by Ukrainian tech.
The truth is that this situation is complex, a mix of technological challenges, economic constraints, geopolitical tensions, and historical factors. The fact that Russia can no longer send humans into space is a watershed moment, reflecting a larger picture of decline and the enduring impact of the war in Ukraine.