Russia set to resume ISS missions with Progress MS-33 launch after launch pad repairs

Just under four months following the Soyuz MS-28 launch, which resulted in significant damage to a critical launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia is prepared to resume its missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The Progress MS-33, an uncrewed cargo spacecraft carrying more than 2,500 kilograms of essential supplies including food and fuel, is slated for launch on Sunday, March 22, at 11:59 UTC from the renovated Site 31/6 launch pad.

Progress MS-33 is expected to reach the ISS approximately two days after its launch, with docking scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at around 13:34 UTC at the station’s Poisk module. The spacecraft, designated Progress 94 by NASA, will remain attached to the ISS for around six months before it is filled with waste and sent back into the atmosphere in a controlled reentry over the South Pacific.

Before the launch of Progress MS-33, the Progress MS-31 spacecraft was undocked from the Poisk module on March 16, paving the way for the new cargo ship’s arrival. Currently, Progress MS-32 is docked at the aft port of the Zvezda module, while the Soyuz MS-28 mission occupies the Rassvet module.

The timeline leading to the launch of Progress MS-33 has been notable, as it was initially set to launch in December 2025, but faced delays due to complications arising from the Soyuz MS-28 launch incident on November 27, 2025. Although the ascent and orbital insertion were successful, the launch pad suffered extensive damage when an unsecured maintenance platform fell into the flame trench, crippling operations at Site 31/6.

With no alternative launch sites available for Soyuz missions, Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, worked urgently to repair the affected pad. The maintenance platform, essential for providing access for crucial preparations and checks on the rocket, needed to be replaced. After initial fears regarding the replacement, Roscosmos located a spare platform from the 1970s, modifying it to ensure it met current specifications, thus enabling the launch of Progress MS-33.

Assuming the pad remains functional, Site 31/6 will be the primary launch point for future Progress and Soyuz missions to the ISS. While there is another pad, Site 1/5, that was historically significant—used for launching the first human into space—it is currently being retired and will soon be transformed into a museum. Furthermore, the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia lacks the facilities needed for Progress missions, making Site 31/6 vital for maintaining a continuous presence on the ISS.

The U.S. Congress has recently proposed to extend the operational lifespan of the ISS until at least September 30, 2032, which would ensure that the Russian program can continue using the station well into the future. Russia’s capacity to launch Progress and Soyuz spacecraft will be essential for sustaining its human spaceflight program. As it currently stands, the next launch, Progress MS-34, is scheduled for April 25, followed by a crewed Soyuz MS-29 mission on July 14.