Russian space agency to recall all Briz-M boosters

11:39, 11 September 2012

MOSCOW. September 11. KAZINFORM Russian Space Agency Roscosmos authorities said on Monday it would recall all of the Briz-M boosters after one of them was believed to have caused a rocket launch failure in August.

Investigation showed the faulty orifices of the booster caused a fuel supply problem which finally led to the launch failure, Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin said, Xinhua reports.

A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket, equipped with a Briz-M booster, carrying two telecommunications satellites malfunctioned during a launching on Aug.6, failing to put the satellites into orbit.

Popovkin confirmed the problem as a "production defect," saying recommendations were given on the producing technology and the pre- launch testing process.

He also disclosed a reform of the space industry would be completed by 2016, adding a draft regarding the development strategy of the industry was submitted to the government in mid- August.