Putin wants changes in Russian space industry

Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought draft proposals for restructuring the national space industry after a string of accidents that have compromised the country's image as a leading space power.

Putin has tasked Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Roscosmos chief Dmitry Popovkin for this purpose.

“I think the problem is the structure of the space industry,” adding that "reshuffles in the structure should be made if necessary," Putin said at the meeting.

Putin's comments echo Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's last week's call for the government to work out a plan to improve Russia’s space industry organisations.

During a meeting with cabinet and space industry officials Tuesday, Medvedev gave them a month to present proposals on "practical steps" to be taken to improve the federal space agency Roscosmos and tighten controls on spacecraft production.

There have been seven failed launches of Russian spacecraft over the past 18 months, which resulted in the loss of seven satellites, Medvedev said.

The situation represents a major challenge for a country that carries out 40 percent of global space launches, he added.