Putin Unhappy with Called-off Launch of Russian Unmanned Aircraft, Agency Officials to Suffer Consequences

If there's one thing Russian officials are careful of, that is not to displease their President, Vladimir Putin. But the recently cancelled launched of a Russian unmanned aircraft angered the leader who then asked for a shake-up with the Russian space agency to limit the "glitches" which caused the delay in their space programs.

Last April 27, the Russian cosmodome was scheduled for lift-off, President Putin was on site to witness the launch, but it was cancelled due to technical problems. Obviously, the strict leader wasn't pleased with the news.

Telegraph said "The Soyuz 2.1a rocket decked with a Russian flag and carrying three satellites failed to lift off at 02:01 GMT from the launchpad, around 5,600 kilometres (3,500 miles) east of Moscow."

In a report by BBC, they said that the Soyuz launch in Vostochny space port, for their Cosmodrome, about 5,500km (3,500 miles) east of Moscow, was cancelled minutes before the lift-off. Officials said it was due to mechanical failure.

Officials blamed a mechanical failure, and the launch was rescheduled for Thursday. BBC quoted the President saying "The fact is there is a large number of hitches," Putin is expected to stay there until the reschedule launch this Thursday.

The project has been delayed for some time now, four members of the agency was already arrested. The president said "If their guilt is proven, they will have to change their warm beds at home for plank-beds in prison."

It is said that the President scolded space chief, according to the Telegraph. In a press conference, Putin said "Despite all its failings, Russia remains the world leader in the number of space launches...But the fact that we're encountering a large number of failures is bad. There must be a timely and professional reaction." Clearly, the annoyed leader expressed his disappointed towards his chief due to the

Roscosmos spokesman Igor Burenkov told a radio station that it was technical malfunction and that the spacecraft was fine. According to some experts the delays was caused by many factors, it is a new and it is better to deal with disappointments now than after the lift-off.

Vadim Lukashevich told Telegraph that aside from technical glitch, Putin's presence could have caused the delay as well. "The military and everyone who launches rockets have a concept of 'visit effect'. When top authorities come, there is nervousness and greater possibility of error."

While in a report by Reuters, they said that the technical problems experience by the Russian agency is worrisome for both Russia and the U.S. because NASA have entrusted Roscosmos to fly their astronauts to the International Space Station.

However, despite the setback, Putin is decided to make resurrect the Russian space programs. They hold the record for sending the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. He said in a press conference "We have a lot of work in front of us, and it's daunting. But, beyond all doubt, this is ... a very serious step forward in the development of Russia's space exploration."