Putin hails first rocket launch from new cosmodrome

Launch of Soyuz 2.1a marks milestone for Russia's beleaguered space industry after series of embarrassments

Russia has launched the first rocket from its new Vostochny cosmodrome, with President Vladimir Putin praising the event after dressing down officials over a delay caused by a technical glitch.

The launch marks a milestone for Russia's beleaguered space sector, with the new spaceport in the far east of the country touted to signal a rebirth of an industry plagued by a string of embarrassments in recent years.