A Soyuz rocket successfully lifted off Thursday, carrying Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, alongside NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, on their eight-month mission to the International Space Station. The crew arrived at the station without incident, marking another milestone in international space cooperation.

However, the launch faced an unexpected complication during ground preparations. At Baikonur’s Site 31, a critical component—an approximately 20-ton service platform—was found to be unsecured prior to launch. This oversight could have posed serious safety risks, highlighting vulnerabilities in ground support procedures.

Russian space agency officials issued a brief statement acknowledging minor damage to some launch pad components during inspection. Experts emphasize that thorough ground system checks are essential for safe launches. Dr. Elena Ivanova, a space safety analyst, notes that “ground system failures, even minor ones, can lead to catastrophic consequences if overlooked.”

Questions remain about how such a significant oversight occurred and whether it could have impacted the launch. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous safety protocols in space operations, especially at historic sites like Baikonur, which continues to be a vital hub for crewed missions.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.