Medvedev Seeks 'Performance Discipline'

Energia vice-president Vyacheslav Filin and Roskosmos deputy head Viktor Remishevsky have been fired for "the mistakes made in the fuel calculations," in the failed launch of three Glonass-M orbiters in a statement released by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The Russian Proton-M rocket proved too heavy to reach its initial orbit during the December 5 launch and was forced to dump the three hi-tech Glonass-M satellites near Hawaii. The rocket had too much fuel adding weight.

The statement said Medvedev had reprimanded Roskosmos chief Anatoly Perminov and ordered the agency to be more careful in future work. "On the Russian President's instructions, Roskosmos will undertake additional measures to strengthen its performance discipline," the Kremlin said. More from the BBC.