Director of the branch of Roskosmos state corporation at the Vostochny spaceport Konstantin Chmarov described the failed launch of the Soyuz-2 rocket. 1b »« flight tests ». He stated this in an interview with the news agency Amur. info ».

"The task was performed excellently by the cosmodrome. Flight tests were excellent. Payload output parallel with flight tests - not performed. You know that the entire history of rocket and space technology is associated, in particular, with accidents and even with tragedies, "the official said..

In his opinion, "the launch task would have been unsuccessful, if there had been a regular launch, the cosmodrome was operating in the regular mode, we would have performed the functions of the carrier". Chmarov noted that "the cosmodrome is being expanded, modernized, acquires a modern look, can fulfill universal tasks".

The director of the branch also commented on the statement of the protodeacon Andrei Kuraev about the responsibility of the church for the accident. "Firstly, it is an Orthodox tradition, which is supported at the Baikonur, Plesetsk cosmodromes, naturally, and on the Eastern. The second launch, like the first, was consecrated.

All rocket and space testers piously honor traditions, "said the official..

The Soyuz-2 rocket. 1b with the Fregat upper stage and payload (19 satellites, including 17 foreign ones) started on November 28 from the Eastern, but due to problems with the upper stage the head part of the carrier was lost. This was the second launch from the main cosmodrome of the country. After the accident, Roskosmos reduced the number of planned launches from the new spaceport in the next few years.