10.10 Russia Appoints New Space Chief
MOSCOW, October 10 (RIA Novosti) Former Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Ostapenko will head up Russias Federal Space Agency, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday. The move comes as part of a major reshuffle of the countrys troubled space industry.
Medvedev said he hoped that, as head of the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos, Ostapenko will help streamline the countrys space program, which has experienced numerous setbacks in recent years.
Earlier Thursday, Ostapenko, 56, was relieved of his duties as deputy defense minister and discharged from military service by President Vladimir Putin, in a move preceding his new appointment.
No announcement has yet been made about the Agencys outgoing head Vladimir Popovkin.
