Roscosmos seeks Kazakh government help in future Baikonur space launches

Russia's space agency Roscosmos has asked the government of Kazakhstan to help resolve problems over future space launches of the Proton carrier rocket from Baikonur cosmodrome, the agency's deputy chief Sergei Savelyev said on Wednesday. "Taking into account the importance of using Proton to implement the national space program, I appeal to the government of Kazakhstan to render assistance..." Savelyev told a commission investigating consequences of the Proton-M rocket failure at Baikonur on July 2. "We continue efforts to eliminate the aftermath of the rocket collapse. The positive dynamics of the clean-up made it possible to believe that it will be done by joint efforts," Savelyev said. The Proton rocket carrying three GLONASS satellites collapsed at Baikonur about 2,500 metres from the launch pad.