Putin hails first rocket launch from new cosmodrome

Vostochny / AFP

Russia launched the first rocket from its new Vostochny cosmodrome on Thursday, with President Vladimir Putin hailing the event after dressing down officials over a delay caused by a technical glitch.
The launch is a major milestone for Russia’s beleaguered space sector, with the new spaceport in the far east of the country touted to mark a rebirth of an industry plagued by a string of embarrassments in recent years.
The Soyuz 2.1a rocket carrying three satellites took off at 11:01 am, the Roscosmos national space agency said in a statement, after the countdown was automatically halted for technical reasons 24 hours previously.
National television showed the Soyuz 2.1a taking off into a blue sky in light winds, although foreign media organisations including AFP were not allowed to enter the new space centre.
Putin was present for the take-off. “You know they say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You have to make the first launch to confirm the cosmodrome is ready for work. And you did it!” Putin told industry officials. “I want to congratulate you. We can be proud. It’s a serious and important contribution to the development of the Russian space industry,” he added.
“Yesterday the technical side was put to the test and the launch had to be stopped, but it happens. It’s a normal thing.” The postponement of Vostochny’s inaugural launch had seen the Russian strongman scold space chiefs—despite delays worldwide being relatively frequent.
A European launch from French Guiana had to be put off three times last week before finally taking place on Monday.
The Russian delay was due to a malfunction of a cable, a space agency spokesman, Mikhail Fadeyev, said.
Construction on the new spaceport began in 2012 but has been marred by a string of labour disputes, corruption scandals and delays.
The first satellite launch had been scheduled for late 2015, but setbacks forced authorities to review the timetable.
“Despite all its failings, Russia remains the world leader in the number of space launches,” Putin told a meeting of space officials on Wednesday. “But the fact that we’re encountering a large number of failures is bad. There must be a timely and professional
reaction.”