What Happened
Russian Space Ambitions Stalled By Sanctions And Debt
A decade ago, Russian airline group S7 bet on a floating spaceport to break into the commercial launch market. However, Sea Launch has not launched a rocket in over 12 years, and its future remains uncertain. The project was acquired by S7 Group in 2018, but has struggled with debt and sanctions. As reported by Meduza, the spaceport’s idle status is a symbol of the challenges faced by Russia’s space industry in competing with global players.