Deputy PM Rogozin Says Russia Must Continue International Space Cooperation

Russia must continue cooperation with foreign partners in the area of space exploration despite the difficult geopolitical situation, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Thursday.

MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) – Introducing the new head of Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos, Rogozin, who oversees Russia's defense and space industries, said that the creation of the Roscosmos state corporation would help developing this cooperation.

Igor Komarov was appointed Wednesday the head of Roscosmos until the establishment of the corporation on the basis of the current federal agency and the United Rocket and Space Corporation.

The new reforms are being introduced in response to Russian launch vehicle failures, as well as to streamline joint state-business efforts to fight alleged widespread corruption that reportedly has affected a number of key space programs.