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Kremlin: Putin visited Vostochny cosmodrome to see if it is ready for first launch

Despite promises to exert titanic efforts to meet the initially set deadlines, Putin decided there was no need to rush

ASTANA, October 14 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin who visited the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia’s Amur region earlier on Wednesday said he was satisfied how it was preparing for the first launch, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"The degree of readiness (for launching the first space rocket) was discussed at a special meeting at Vostochny. Some facilities were almost ready, others had to be finished," Peskov explained.

Despite promises to exert titanic efforts to meet the initially set deadlines, Putin decided there was no need to rush.

"Space is not a sphere where an emergency mode can be applied," Peskov quoted Putin as saying. They agreed that a series of test works should be completed without haste.

"On the whole, the president gave a very positive assessment to efforts made to catch up for the lost time," the Kremlin spokesperson went on to say. He added that Putin had visited the Vostochny cosmodrome last year and had a chance to compare how the situation had changed since then.