MOSCOW, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia's space industry remains confident despite longstanding challenges, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday ahead of Russia's Cosmonautics Day.

"This year, we also celebrate the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight. Last year was generally positive for the industry: 17 launches and 97 spacecraft were sent into orbit. Consolidated revenue grew by 10 percent, exceeding 500 billion rubles," Putin noted.

During a meeting with Putin, Dmitry Bakanov, head of Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos, highlighted that two weeks ago, Roscosmos and its private partners successfully launched a new low-orbit broadband satellite constellation, bringing Russia's orbital grouping to 364 spacecraft. He emphasized that the launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome went ahead despite external attempts to disrupt it.

"When people say space is above politics, our so-called 'friends' tried everything to prevent this launch. On that day, there were serious strike attempts on the cosmodrome. Nevertheless, the joint combat crews of Roscosmos enterprises and the Space Forces completed the mission," Bakanov said.

Bakanov also briefed Putin on the 'New Start' project, under which a private investor will contribute 600 billion rubles over eight years for the conversion of the Topol missile and the development of a reusable launch vehicle. The first launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome is planned for the first quarter of 2027.