Last mentioned: Mar 23, 2026
Return to Flight
First successful rocket launch from the restored Site 31 pad.
Ed White performs a 23-minute EVA during the Gemini 4 mission.
Svetlana Savitskaya becomes the first woman to perform an EVA.
SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew conducts the first private sector EVA.
Repair Phase
Roscosmos engineers conduct repairs on the pad's ground support equipment and flame deflectors.
Launch Accident
A lift-off mishap causes significant damage to the infrastructure at Site 31.
First Human Spacewalk
Alexei Leonov exits Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes.
Russia has successfully resumed operations at Site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, conducting its first launch since the facility was damaged in a November accident. The restoration of the pad is a critical step for Roscosmos as it seeks to maintain its orbital launch cadence amid increasing international isolation.
The anniversary of Alexei Leonov's historic 1965 spacewalk highlights the evolution of extravehicular activity from a high-stakes Cold War gamble to a critical capability for modern orbital infrastructure and defense. This milestone established the technical foundations for satellite servicing and long-term human presence in the space domain.