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| Putin hails first rocket launch from new cosmodrome | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia has launched the first rocket from its new Vostochny cosmodrome, with President Vladimir Putin praising the event after dressing down officials over a delay caused by a technical glitch. | Russia has launched the first rocket from its new Vostochny cosmodrome, with President Vladimir Putin praising the event after dressing down officials over a delay caused by a technical glitch. |
| The launch marks a milestone for Russia’s beleaguered space sector, with the new spaceport in the far east of the country touted to signal a rebirth of an industry plagued by a string of embarrassments in recent years. | The launch marks a milestone for Russia’s beleaguered space sector, with the new spaceport in the far east of the country touted to signal a rebirth of an industry plagued by a string of embarrassments in recent years. |
| The Soyuz 2.1a rocket carrying three satellites took off at 11.01am (02:01 GMT) on Thursday, the Roscosmos national space agency said, after the countdown was automatically halted for technical reasons 24 hours previously. | |
| Related: Russia launches Proton-M rocket carrying telecoms satellite | Related: Russia launches Proton-M rocket carrying telecoms satellite |
| National television showed the Soyuz 2.1a taking off into a blue sky in light winds, although foreign media organisations were not allowed to enter the new space centre. | National television showed the Soyuz 2.1a taking off into a blue sky in light winds, although foreign media organisations were not allowed to enter the new space centre. |
| Putin, who was present for the take-off, told industry officials: “You know they say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You have to make the first launch to confirm the cosmodrome is ready for work. And you did it! | Putin, who was present for the take-off, told industry officials: “You know they say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You have to make the first launch to confirm the cosmodrome is ready for work. And you did it! |
| “I want to congratulate you. We can be proud. It’s a serious and important contribution to the development of the Russian space industry. Yesterday the technical side was put to the test and the launch had to be stopped, but it happens. It’s a normal thing.” | “I want to congratulate you. We can be proud. It’s a serious and important contribution to the development of the Russian space industry. Yesterday the technical side was put to the test and the launch had to be stopped, but it happens. It’s a normal thing.” |
| The postponement of Vostochny’s inaugural launch had prompted the Russian strongman to scold space chiefs – despite delays worldwide being relatively frequent. | The postponement of Vostochny’s inaugural launch had prompted the Russian strongman to scold space chiefs – despite delays worldwide being relatively frequent. |
| A European launch from French Guiana had to be postponed three times last week before finally taking place on Monday. | A European launch from French Guiana had to be postponed three times last week before finally taking place on Monday. |
| The Russian delay was due to a malfunction of a cable, space agency spokesman Mikhail Fadeyev said. | |
| Construction on the new spaceport began in 2012 but has been marred by labour disputes, corruption scandals and delays. The first satellite launch had been scheduled for late 2015, but setbacks forced authorities to review the timetable. | Construction on the new spaceport began in 2012 but has been marred by labour disputes, corruption scandals and delays. The first satellite launch had been scheduled for late 2015, but setbacks forced authorities to review the timetable. |
| “Despite all its failings, Russia remains the world leader in the number of space launches,” Putin told a meeting of space officials on Wednesday. “But the fact that we’re encountering a large number of failures is bad. There must be a timely and professional reaction.” | “Despite all its failings, Russia remains the world leader in the number of space launches,” Putin told a meeting of space officials on Wednesday. “But the fact that we’re encountering a large number of failures is bad. There must be a timely and professional reaction.” |
| The new spaceport in the Amur region has been hailed by Putin as Russia’s biggest building project, with a budget estimated at 300bn-400bn rubles (£3.2bn-£4.2bn). | |
| Approximately 10,000 workers have been building 70 miles of roads in the vast but sparsely populated region, as well as 78 miles of railways and a town with housing for 25,000 people. | Approximately 10,000 workers have been building 70 miles of roads in the vast but sparsely populated region, as well as 78 miles of railways and a town with housing for 25,000 people. |
| The Kremlin’s goal is to ease Russia’s dependence on Baikonur in Kazakhstan, a launchpad Moscow has been forced to rent at a cost of $115m a year since the collapse of the Soviet Union. | The Kremlin’s goal is to ease Russia’s dependence on Baikonur in Kazakhstan, a launchpad Moscow has been forced to rent at a cost of $115m a year since the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| But the deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the space and defence industries, said Russia would continue to use Baikonur to launch manned missions until 2023, and the Soyuz 2.1a would be the only launch from Vostochny in 2016. | But the deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the space and defence industries, said Russia would continue to use Baikonur to launch manned missions until 2023, and the Soyuz 2.1a would be the only launch from Vostochny in 2016. |
| Related: Russian rocket manufacturer insists it is not to blame for failed Antares launch | Related: Russian rocket manufacturer insists it is not to blame for failed Antares launch |
| Roscosmos plans to hold two launches from Vostochny next year and six to eight launches in 2018, said Fadeyev. | Roscosmos plans to hold two launches from Vostochny next year and six to eight launches in 2018, said Fadeyev. |
| Political analyst Alexei Makarkin said the launch was a clear success and all the more important against a backdrop of an economic crisis brought on by low oil prices and western sanctions over Moscow’s role in Ukraine. | |
| “Space right now is an attribute of greatness,” he said. “Russia now is trying to catch up in the space industry. Outside the commodities sector we don’t have a lot of competitive industries. What else can we offer the world?” | “Space right now is an attribute of greatness,” he said. “Russia now is trying to catch up in the space industry. Outside the commodities sector we don’t have a lot of competitive industries. What else can we offer the world?” |
| Russia is also home to the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the north, used for satellite launches and missile testing. | Russia is also home to the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the north, used for satellite launches and missile testing. |
| Vostochny, like Baikonur, is closer to the equator, making launches more energy-efficient and cheaper. | Vostochny, like Baikonur, is closer to the equator, making launches more energy-efficient and cheaper. |
| The new cosmodrome now has one launchpad for the Soyuz, the only rocket being used for manned space flights. | The new cosmodrome now has one launchpad for the Soyuz, the only rocket being used for manned space flights. |
| A second construction phase will begin next year to build a reinforced launchpad for the Angara rocket, which is being tested to replace the ageing Proton workhorse variety. | A second construction phase will begin next year to build a reinforced launchpad for the Angara rocket, which is being tested to replace the ageing Proton workhorse variety. |