First launch from Vostochny Cosmodrome very serious, important step in Russian cosmonautics development - Putin
VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME. April 28 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the Roscosmos state corporation and specialists who built the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in Russia's Amur region, on the successful inaugural launch of a rocket carrier from the cosmodrome on Thursday.
"I would like to congratulate you. We have plenty to be proud of. The equipment overdid a bit yesterday. In principle, it was possible to launch yesterday, but the equipment overdid it and halted the launch. It is normal," Putin told workers and Roscosmos representatives after watching the launch.
"The most important thing is that the facility is working. We prepared it well, and it is functioning. There is still the second stage ahead, [to enable the cosmodrome to handle launches of] a heavy-lift rocket... There is a lot of work ahead of us, but, certainly, it is a very serious and important step in the development of Russian cosmonautics," the president said.