OREANDA-NEWS. March 18, 2009. In particular, he visited the workshop where the Proton and Angara boosters and modules for the International Space Station are assembled. The Khrunichev Centre is Russia's only enterprise that produces upper stage boosters.

The Prime Minister was also shown a mockup of the Mir space station.

Vladimir Nesterov, the company's director general, told Mr Putin about the Centre's new designs, and its financial and economic situation, which has become difficult due to the global economic crisis.

After that, Mr Putin talked with workers at the enterprise and assured them that the space sector, in particular the Khrunichev Centre, would receive financing despite the global economic downturn.