The launch of Russian-German SPACE observatory designed to study black holes, galactic clusters and dark matter was shifted to 2017 since German specialists fail to prepare the telescope in time, – Roscosmos press-office reports.

Russian specialists started discussing Spektr-RG project with their foreign colleagues in Spring 2005, final concept of the observatory was developed by autiumn 2008 and in 2009 Roscosmos and German Aerospace Agency DLR signed an agreement. Spektr-RG launch was postponed several times. First it was shifted to 2014, then to 2015. The observatory will comprise two telescopes: the Russian one ART-XC being developed in Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov and the German eROSITA.

“German telescope delivery was planned for June 2015, the Russian one will be delivered in July 2015. Thus space device launch is scheduled for 2017”, – Roscosmos press-office head Irina Zubareva reported.

The launch was shifted due to delay in German telescope manufacturing, – Victor Khartov, Director General of Lavochkin Scientific Development and Production Center developing navigator platform for observatory basis explained.

“Our German partners have recently informed us about 1,5 years delay in telescope delivery. Thus the launch is planned for 2017 now.  Developing any new device the specialists may face off-nominal situations. It may happen everywhere and even highly organized German specialists may face this, – Khartov stated.