VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME, April 27. /TASS/. The reaction to setbacks in the rocket and space industry should be timely, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"Russia remains the leader by the number of launches and this is good but it is bad that we’re confronted with a larger number of setbacks and the reaction to these setbacks must be timely," Putin said at a meeting of the state commission.
According to the Russian president, the construction of the Vostochny space center in Russia's Far East has been carried out in line with the set standards.
"In general, the spaceport was built in line with the standards," Putin said.
He recalled the construction proceeded with difficulties, there were certain problems, in particular, six criminal cases were initiated, and four people are under arrest: two in jail and two under house arrest.
"If their guilt it proven, they will have to change their warm beds at home to plank-beds in prison," the head of state said.
Putin said today’s failure of a launch from Vostochny "is connected not with the condition of the cosmodrome but with the rocket system." At the same time he said he is convinced that in general, "the rocket industry is demonstrating good rates, it considerably outstrips other related industries."
The Russian president recalled that in the 1990s the country nearly lost the industry as there were those who suggested investing money not in high technology but in foodstuffs for citizens.
"But with the loss of the high-tech sphere, we would have also lost sausage and bread," he said, adding that high technology first of all means prospective development, "thank God we came to senses, changed our mind in time."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized negligent attitudes to work in the rocket industry in a number of cases.
"If this [failures] are due to negligence and insufficient control of important processes, would like to understand and to see how debriefing proceeds," Putin said, as he joined a meeting of the state commission responsible for the launch. "True, conclusions will have to be derived," he added.
Putin looked back on the recent abortive launches from the Kourou space site - two caused by bad weather and two due to the inadequate condition of equipment.
"How come it was not checked properly. Why as it delivered in faulty condition?" Putin asked.
The Russian president said on Wednesday that he would pay another visit to Vostochny spaceport.
Putin had attended a meeting of the State Commission, which is investigating the causes behind a failed launch attempt that occurred early on Wednesday. Putin said he would listen to reports, which the commission members would submit to their bosses and would try to understand what conclusions should be drawn. He added he would build his plans for the next launch from Vostochny dependent on when it is going to take place.
"But I will come here without fail," the president promised.
"The purpose of my today’s trip is to become convinced that the spaceport’s construction has reached normal parameters," Putin said. "I hope I will still have a chance to thank the people who worked here conscientiously," the head of state said adding that the first launch from a new civilian space launch facility was a major step forward in the development of the rocket and space industry.