Russian Daily Slams Failures Of Moscow's Defense, Space Programs

The Russian space program pursued by Roscosmos was brutally slammed by the Moscow-based daily Moskovskij Komsomolets (MK) this week for its supposed weaknesses, as well as corruption and embezzlement of funds, Jacob Paul reported for Daily Express.

Photo Insert: Roscosmos has also reportedly been struggling to produce the Soyuz rockets and Progress spacecraft, which are one of the key features of its space program.

In an article by Russian journalist Dmitry Popov, “The Space Program Is Rotting from Within,” the agency’s struggles were laid bare. The piece read: "Roscosmos is exercising, shall we say, not-so-strict control over the execution of defense contracts by its daughter-companies.”

Popov argued: "In March 2020, Dmitriy Olegovich Rogozin approved the relevant procedural regulations to exercise control over the execution of Defense Ministry contracts by subordinate organizations of the state corporation. However, an audit showed that his subordinates are in no hurry to comply with procedures…Where appropriate controls are insufficient, fraud and abuse are inevitable.”

The Khrunichev Center reportedly agreed to produce 10 booster cores for the Angara A5 rocket five years ago. But the first five of those were only delivered this year, and the other five have not even been completed yet, he bewailed.

MK claimed that Roscosmos has also been struggling to produce the Soyuz rockets and Progress spacecraft, which are one of the key features of its space program.

The paper said some chemicals needed for space travel can’t be created in Russia. Instead, they have to be delivered from Germany, which revealed sanctions against Russia are hampering the delivery of such substances.

Popov insisted this embargo could be stopped “with a single keystroke.” The allegations suggest that Russia’s space program is falling apart at a time when Russia has been attempting to assert itself in space by forming a key partnership with China.

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