Russian security service and space agency in conflict over private US satellites

A contract potentially worth $1bn to the cash-strapped Roscosmos allegedly poses a national security risk.

Ariana News Agency- Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and its cash-strapped space agency Roscosmos are in conflict over a $1bn contract to launch private satellites on behalf of a US company.

The FSB reportedly intervened to demand the cancellation of the contract between US firm OneWeb and state corporation Roscosmos to launch a constellation of internet-connectivity satellites.

But the space agency’s chief executive, former deputy prime minister Dimitry Rogozin, has been bullish about the project according to Russian news agency Interfax.

In a press conference on Monday, Mr Rogozin said he had sent Roscosmos’ opinion on the intervention to the government, stressing the contract was “extremely important” and hadn’t been cancelled.

What does the contract involve? 

The contract involves launching 21 Soyuz rockets over 2019 and 2020 as part of a project by OneWeb to launch a constellation of satellites which would offer global broadband coverage.

According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, the FSB intervened in the project over fears satellite internet access in Russia would allow people to route around the agency’s internet monitoring abilities.