Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev replaced the head of the state space agency Roscosmos.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev replaced the head of the state space agency Roscosmos, his spokeswoman said on Thursday, after a series of embarrassing rocket launch failures.

Oleg Ostapenko, previously deputy defence minister, was appointed the new chief, replacing Vladimir Popovkin, spokeswoman Natalya Timakova told AFP, confirming a report on state television.