Russian PM demands accountability, remedy for failed rocket launch

MOSCOW, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday demanded punishment of those responsible for the recent failed launch of a Soyuz rocket and proposals on a proper remedy.

"We cannot bear such costs... It's not even about finance. These are reputational problems for the space industry. We need to submit proposals on how to fix the situation, and about who will answer for this," Medvedev said at a meeting with deputy prime ministers.

Russia launched a Soyuz-2.1b rocket on Tuesday, carrying 19 satellites from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, which later failed to place a meteorological satellite in the target orbit.

The prime minister said that he had received a report from the head of Russia's State Corporation Roscosmos and other officials.

"We need to draw all the necessary conclusions based on the results of the work of the commission that has just been created, and to submit proposals for a radical correction of the situation," Medvedev said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Olegovich Rogozin, who is in charge of the space sector, said the special commission established on his instruction is now "testing the entire quality control system in the manufacture of rocket and space technology and preparing it for launch."

He pledged to report back on the results of the study as soon as possible.

This was the second launch of a spacecraft from the Vostochny cosmodrome, aimed at reducing Russia's dependence on the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Enditem