MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Rogozin reported to President Vladimir Putin on the corporation’s performance in 2020 and plans for the near term.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Rogozin, let us have an in-depth discussion on the corporation’s performance in 2020. The issues we will discuss include carrier rocket launches, the state of the orbital group, your plans, fundamental space research, and, of course, the financial indicators. Please, go ahead. 

General Director of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin: Mr. President, last year we posted good results overall. For a second year running since 1993, there were no accidents. This is certainly a positive indicator – I hope we will continue in the same manner – of improved discipline in the sector as a whole and the reliability of our rocket and space technology.

Proton rocket

Thales Alenia Space engineers have placed the Yamal-402 communications satellite in its proper geosynchronous orbit after a botched launch by Russia’s Proton launch vehicle.

The recovery effort involved four firings of the satellite’s on-board propulsion system. Media reports indicate that this will reduce the spacecraft’s on-orbit lifetime from 15 to 11 years.

Thales Alenia Space built the Yamal-402 satellite for Gazprom Space Systems.

Meanwhile, an investigation has begun into the failure of the Proton rocket’s Breeze-M upper stage, which stopped firing earlier than planned during its final burn.

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