Deputy PM urges update of Russian space industry

Russian Deputy Prime Minster Dmitry Rogozin on Monday urged an update of the nation's space industry, including increasing use of Angara carrier rockets rather than Proton-M space rockets.

"Proton's failure (on Saturday) proved urgency of its replacement by the Angara rocket," which was successfully test-launched at the end of last year, Rogozin told a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

On Saturday, a Proton-M rocket failed to put a Mexican satellite into orbit and burnt up in the atmosphere. Preliminary information showed that the incident was caused by a breakdown in a steering engine of the third stage.

Rogozin added that the Russian space industry needs to shift to fully-digitalized operations to avoid similar failures, while punishment for failed space missions should be toughened.

"Greater responsibility and consolidation of the space industry, as well as its technical modernization, are vital preconditions for keeping our (leading) position," RIA Novosti quoted Rogozin as saying.

According to Medvedev, Proton's failure impedes the reputation of the entire Russian space program. He said that everyone responsible for the Proton losses must pay the forfeits.

The prime minister also intended to meet officials of the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos and the space industry after a special commission completes its investigation into Saturday's incident. Endi