Putin axes Yuri Borisov, head of Russia's space agency

[Admin]

Vladimir Putin has dismissed Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov, who led the Russian space agency for a turbulent 2.5-year stretch.

Putin axes Yuri Borisov, head of Russia's space agency : Read more

 

[Meteoric Marmot]

Maybe at 39 he hasn't built up an extensive enough "old crony network" to be as totally corrupt as his predecessor. Or not. Advancement based on merit is not a common feature of Russian politics.

 

[Torbjorn Larsson]

Gonets sounds like a mildly successful low tech space program for a nation with the financial muscles of Italy:

As of 2016, the Gonets orbit group comprises 25 second-generation spacecraft "Gonets-M" and 1 first-generation "Gonets-D1". The orbital group performs the task of direct communication with subscribers at any point of the globe.

Waiting times for subscribers vary between a minute and half an hour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonets