Russia Plans Swift Repair of Soyuz Launch Pad; Ariane 6 Achieves Milestone
Roscosmos aims to repair the damaged Soyuz launch pad by February 2026, while Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully completes its first operational flight.
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has announced plans to repair the damaged Soyuz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome by the end of February 2026. The damage occurred during a Soyuz-2.1a rocket launch on November 27, which resulted in a 20-ton service platform falling into the flame trench. Roscosmos stated that all necessary spare components are available for repair, and the damage will be addressed promptly.
In Europe, the Ariane 6 rocket achieved a significant milestone with its first operational flight. The rocket successfully deployed a high-resolution reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the French military. David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, remarked, "Today, here in Kourou, we can say that thanks to Ariane 6, Europe and France have their own autonomous access to space back, and this is great news."