Where did the money allocated for the Russian space telescope go?
It became known that since the end of December 2018, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB of Russia have been conducting an investigation on fraud (theft) in a particularly large amount of state funds (part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code), which were allocated for the creation of the Russian T-170M space telescope. Having received the main mirror with a diameter of 1,7 meters, he was to become a competitor to the American Hubble Space Telescope (Hubble).
It turned out that about 30 million rubles were stolen, but, according to the investigation, the amount of the alleged damage could increase. What is reported Kommersantreferring to their sources of information.
So, the investigation established that the money was allocated to the Inkos company under contracts with the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They should have been spent on manufacturing technical accessories for mirrors of a space telescope and various scientific instruments, as well as for carrying out special works. However, in reality, according to the investigation, all the work was carried out by employees of the NGO named after Lavochkina, who, in partnership with the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was entrusted with the creation of the said telescope. On August 8, 2012, between these structures, the corresponding subcontracting agreement was concluded in the amount of 2 billion rubles.
By the way, the launch of the World Space Observatory - Ultraviolet was planned for 1997. However, in the summer of 2018, Roscosmos State Corporation announced the postponement of the launch of the basic elements of the complex to 2024. The developers suggest that this observatory is able to provide a real breakthrough in astronomy and astrophysics and give scientists new opportunities for space exploration. So, the main element of the observatory should become the T-170M space telescope, which was discussed above.
By the way, in "Roskosmos", which includes the aforementioned NGO named after Lavochkin, did not comment on what was happening, but clarified that they were cooperating with the investigation by providing all the requested information. At the same time, the head of the state corporation Dmitry Rogozin, giving a large and detailed interview on rocket and space issues, the issue of the space telescope also bypassed. However, it must be recalled that in August 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin set the task of bringing the country's rocket and space industry to a new level of quality.
It turned out that about 30 million rubles were stolen, but, according to the investigation, the amount of the alleged damage could increase. What is reported Kommersantreferring to their sources of information.
So, the investigation established that the money was allocated to the Inkos company under contracts with the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They should have been spent on manufacturing technical accessories for mirrors of a space telescope and various scientific instruments, as well as for carrying out special works. However, in reality, according to the investigation, all the work was carried out by employees of the NGO named after Lavochkina, who, in partnership with the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was entrusted with the creation of the said telescope. On August 8, 2012, between these structures, the corresponding subcontracting agreement was concluded in the amount of 2 billion rubles.
By the way, the launch of the World Space Observatory - Ultraviolet was planned for 1997. However, in the summer of 2018, Roscosmos State Corporation announced the postponement of the launch of the basic elements of the complex to 2024. The developers suggest that this observatory is able to provide a real breakthrough in astronomy and astrophysics and give scientists new opportunities for space exploration. So, the main element of the observatory should become the T-170M space telescope, which was discussed above.
By the way, in "Roskosmos", which includes the aforementioned NGO named after Lavochkin, did not comment on what was happening, but clarified that they were cooperating with the investigation by providing all the requested information. At the same time, the head of the state corporation Dmitry Rogozin, giving a large and detailed interview on rocket and space issues, the issue of the space telescope also bypassed. However, it must be recalled that in August 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin set the task of bringing the country's rocket and space industry to a new level of quality.
- АО "НПО Лавочкина"
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