Putin fires space industry official for lost satellites

Russian President Vladimir Putin fired the 63-year-old head of the Khrunichev Space Center, Vladimir Nesterov. The appropriate decree was signed on August 31.

Photo: Source: www.khrunichev.ru

Mr. Nesterov wrote the report about his resignation in mid-August, after he had a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The prime minister instructed the government to prepare proposals to optimize the work of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos. In addition, the prime minister proposed to strengthen the quality control of space products.

"Our country annually provides for up to 40 percent of all space launches in the world. In this regard, we have very good opportunities, but we have to draw conclusions from the string of problems that currently exist," said Medvedev.

The Prime Minister said that over the past 18 months, Russia has had seven failed launches and lost 10 satellites. According to him, during the period from 2012 to 2015, the state plans to invest 650 billion rubles in the development of the space industry, adds RBC. One needs to find out what causes the accidents with Russian satellites, and who should be responsible for it, said Medvedev.

Meanwhile, a senior source in the government told the Izvestia newspaper that the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin, could be dismissed from his position after a meeting with Medvedev on September 10.