Russian space agency must present recommendations on security issues

Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, must make recommendations to improve control in the country's space industry, in particular its launcher sector.

After the failure of a Proton rocket carrying two telecommunications satellites in early August, the Russian government issued its space agency a deadline to produce recommendations to improve control in Russia’s space industry.

When directing Roscosmos to come up with the recommendations, Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated that “It is possible to produce low-quality products,” and bear “no financial responsibility” for their failure — “not to mention… disciplinary and other responsibilities. You need to decide who is to blame for the recent series of setbacks, where mistakes were made, and determine the degree of responsibility of all those implicated.”

Rumours say the Russian government had also ordered the dismissal of Vladimir Nesterov, general director of Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow, which builds most parts of the Proton rocket.