The launch pad Russia uses to send spacecraft to the International Space Station has been damaged and is in need of repairs before any more missions can get off the ground.

The good news: three astronauts aboard a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft successfully reached the orbital outpost after a Thanksgiving Day launch.

The bad news: The launch itself damaged the launch pad at Russia's main space complex in Kazakhstan.

Here's what to know.

Russian launch pad damaged after launch

A launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome was damaged after a Roscosmos capsule, known as Soyuz MS-28, launched at 4:27 a.m. ET (2:27 p.m. local time) on Thursday, Nov. 27.

Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, was quoted in Russian news agencies as saying damage was observed after an inspection of the launch area, Reuters reported. The agency added that the damage was expected to be repaired quickly.

"Damage to a number of elements of the launch pad was detected. An assessment of the state of the launch complex is being conducted now," the agencies quoted Roscosmos as saying. "All the necessary reserve elements are there to restore it and the damage will be eliminated very soon."

NASA astronaut flies with two cosmonauts to ISS

The launch helped to propel a crew of three including a NASA astronauts and two Russian cosmonauts, to the International Space Station.

American Chris Williams reached the orbital laboratory Thursday, Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving Day) with Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, according to NASA.

Williams and his crewmates are due to spend approximately eight months aboard the space station performing scientific research and helping to maintain the station before returning to Earth in summer 2026. The three spacefarers are replacing a three-member crew that includes NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the ISS in April with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky on a Soyuz MS-27 capsule.

What is the Baikonur Cosmodrome?

The Baikonur Cosmodrome is a spaceport Russia's space agency Roscosmos operates within Kazakhstan. The site is where all of Russia's human spaceflight missions get off the ground.

The damage the launch pad at the Cosmodrome sustained should not delay the return of the Soyuz MS-28 mission.

Contributing: Reuters

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russian launch pad damaged after launch of NASA astronaut, 2 others to ISS

Reporting by Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect