Dmitry Rogozin
The construction of the Vostochny cosmodrome is being delayed, proceeds with violations, in particular, numerous corruption scandals, and is becoming more and more expensive for the Russian budget, writes ArsTechnica in a publication dedicated to the latest layoffs that took place at Roscosmos.
The author of the material, Eric Berger, recalls that in November, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the general director of the state corporation Dmitry Rogozin. “It is unclear whether the latest spate of layoffs is related to Putin's recent meeting with Rogozin on the country's space issues. It seems that by dismissing and arresting his subordinates, Rogozin still managed to shift the blame for the troubles onto other officials, ”the publication says.
It also states that the cost estimate for Vostochny, designed to reduce Russia's dependence on the Baikonur cosmodrome located in Kazakhstan, reaches $ 7.5 billion, while “of the planned launch sites, only one is operating”, intended for launching Soyuz-2 rockets. “.
Berger recalls that recently the general director of the Vostochny Cosmodrome Directorate Evgeny Rogoza, the director of the Vostochny space center Roman Bobkov, as well as the head of the Ground Space Infrastructure Operation Center (TSENKI) Andrei Okhlopkov and the chief engineer of the enterprise Vladimir Zhuk have been fired or arrested. The chief inspector of the 119th department of the state architectural and construction supervision (GASN) of the Ministry of Defense Dmitry Fomintsev was placed under arrest.
The publication claims that Roscosmos is currently facing serious financial problems, the reason for which, in particular, is the loss of the state corporation's monopoly on the delivery of people to the International Space Station (ISS) and the development of the United States of its own rocket engines to replace Russian ones.
In October, an ArsTechnica publication stated that Russia's Amur Medium Reusable Rocket resembles the scaled-down American Falcon 9 heavy rocket, and its creation is one of the Rogozin-era promises that are unlikely to be fulfilled.
In August, the publication reported that the statements of the general director of Roscosmos about a manned mission to the Moon or Mars and the creation of a “real” reusable rocket are not confirmed by the real state of affairs, in particular, by the presence of current modern technology that supports the declared capabilities, and therefore belong to the realm of fantasy …
Rogozin became head of Roscosmos in May 2018. Among the space programs repeatedly transferred by the state corporation, one can note, in particular, the launch of the Nauka module to the ISS, the second launch of the Angara heavy rocket, the construction of the Vostochny cosmodrome, as well as the development of advanced space systems, the implementation of the lunar program and the renewal of the satellite constellation.
