On heels of failed launch and Putin’s ire, Russia opens new spaceport

World Today

Russia launched the first rocket from its new spaceport Thursday, despite being years behind schedule and the focus of corruption allegations.

CCTV’s Elena Casas reports from Moscow.

The launch was delayed for 24 hours by a technical glitch that sparking the ire of Vladimir Putin, who had flown the 3,500 miles from Moscow to Vostochny to see it.

“There were many problems. We had to open six criminal cases; four people are now under arrest. Two of them though are under house arrest and two others are in preliminary detention, but if suspects in this breach of law are found guilty, they will have to swap their warm bed at home for a prison bunk,” Putin said. “I have no doubt about it.”

The officials are being investigated for embezzling funds after the project’s budget soared to $52 billion.

The former Soviet Union sent the first man into space 55 years ago, and Russia eventually plans to use the new base to put the first man on Mars. But the next launch from Vostochny isn’t scheduled until 2018.


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CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar spoke to Ryan Faith, editor at Vice News to discuss the Cosmodrome launch and future of Russia’s space program.