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Russian space agency launches rocket from new cosmodrome after getting a roasting from Vladimir Putin over failed first attempt

Russian space agency Roscosmos has successfully launched a rocket from its brand new cosmodrome, after a failed first attempt on Wednesday.

The agency was left red faced when its first attempt to launch the rocket was thwarted by a technical glitch - leading many to question the state of the nation's space industry.

President Vladimir Putin was reportedly furious, after flying thousands of kilometres to watch what Russian media and officials touted as an historic event.

He criticised Roscosmos and government officials for the its handling of the situation, saying that "there should be an appropriate reaction".

However, at 05:01 Moscow time (03:01 BST) today, the unmanned Soyuz-2.1A rocket roared off into a clear blue sky from the launch pad at Vostochny cosmodrome in the remote Amur Region near China's border.

The rocket was carrying three satellites, which separated from the rocket's third stage about nine minutes into the flight, heading to their designated orbits.

"The main thing is that this launch pad is now working, it has been prepared well by you and it is functioning," Putin told cosmodrome workers on Thursday.