Another mystery death in Russia as space chief becomes fourth senior official to die in a matter of DAYS

ONE of Vladimir Putin’s top engineers has died suddenly aged 74, the latest death among Russia’s military and scientific elite this year. Vladimir Nesterov, who designed the Angara rocket, was accused of massive embezzlement just before his death aged 74. East2WestVladimir Nesterov, top Russian rocket scientist, has died aged 74[/caption] The man who made Putin’s dreams of space exploration possible with the creation of the “world best” rocket pads was under a cloud of suspicion this year. Formerly the director of Russia’s prestigious Khrunichev Centre, Nesterov was the brains behind the Angara rockets, which Putin hoped to use to pioneer Russian space travel. Russia’s first manned mission to the moon is in development, off the back of Nesterov’s designs. But the later years of his life have been dogged by allegations of fraud and embezzlement. His cause of death has not been released.