Russia’s President Vladimir Putin liquidated the Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, on Monday — and replaced it with a state corporation, still called Roscosmos.
The plan, to take effect January 1, was decided a year ago following a series of embarrassing rocket failures and high-profile corruption.
Russia lost a defense satellite Dec. 5, 2015, when the satellite failed to separate from a Soyuz rocket.
A failed Russian Proton rocket launch in May resulted in the loss of a Mexican communications satellite. Another Soyuz rocket breakdown in April failed to deliver cargo supplies to the International Space Station.
Putin in October criticized officials …read more
Source: Voice of America