We definitely should not gloat over today’s postponement of the Soyuz launch from the new Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Yes, the construction has been plagued by appalling corruption and fraud from the start and continues to be. We ourselves have published several investigations on the subject. Lyubov Sobol, who handles this issue at the ACF (Anti-Corruption Foundation), is constantly sparring with Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin.
Yes, the final construction cost estimate remains unclear. Yes, even after the first launch, the cosmodrome will most likely need another two years of work to be completed.
Nevertheless, the exploration and development of space is one of humanity’s most important tasks. We should celebrate when things go right—for Musk, for the Americans, for the Europeans, for the Chinese, and for Roscosmos alike. And we should not celebrate when they do not.
Today’s minor setback is a setback for planet Earth, not for Russia or Putin.
I hope everything works out tomorrow.
Let the rockets and satellites fly, and let us separate corruption from scientific and technological progress—and investigate it down here on Earth.