Space Activities: Ukraine Looking for New Developments

E S P I 51 PERSPECTIVES

Michel LAFFAITEUR , Consultant, AAAF/CSD, Oleg FEDOROV , Director, Ukrainian Space Research Institute and Sergey GERASYMCHUK , Consultant, Aerospace and Innovation

As the country that inherited one third of the industrial space capabilities of the former Soviet Union, Ukraine was one of the first ex-Soviet states to create a Space Agency and to conceive a comprehensive space policy through the implementation of four consecutive space programmes. The latest of these programmes includes space activities in several areas, such as Earth observation, navigation, launch services’ development and space science missions. In spite of the setback to the country’s commercial space activities caused by the Sea Launch bankruptcy, future prospects for Ukrainian subcontractors engaged in the project under the company’s new Russian management seem promising. On an institutional level, the importance of space activities in Ukraine is reflected in its complex and comprehensive national space legislation, which includes the Law on Space Activities of 1996 and the Law on State Support for Space Activities of 2000. This legal framework includes extremely elaborate provisions regarding registering, licensing and certifying procedures for all space related products and services provided in Ukraine, or under Ukrainian jurisdiction abroad. However, further efforts should be made towards its harmonisation with European standards. At the moment, EU-Ukraine cooperation in space is conducted through the activities of a Joint Support Office in Kiev, operating within the FP7 framework. Further strengthening of this cooperation could be made possible through the Ukrainian participation in the EU flagship programmes of Galileo and GMES.

1. Background the development of both launch vehicles and spacecrafts. Space activities are conducted in Ukraine inherited a third of the industrial space accordance with the National Space capacity of the former Soviet Union. To further Programme, which is approved by the develop this activity, considered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament): authorities of the country as a key sector, Ukraine established in January 1992 the • The first programme (1993-1997) was devoted National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), to the preservation of the scientific and whose mission was to control and monitor more production capacity of the space industry in than thirty institutions directly related to space the interest of the country’s national economy activities, including industries, offices, military and security, as well as to the promotion of installations, research institutes and other Ukraine’s participation to the international organisations involved in the sector. From 9 market of space services. December 2010, NSAU became the State Space • The second programme (1998-2002) was Agency of Ukraine. The main objectives of aimed at establishing a domestic market of SSAU are to prepare the state policy in the field space services, introducing Ukrainian products of space exploration, to promote the and services in the international market and strengthening of defence capabilities and integrating the country into the international national security of the state, and to organise space community. and develop cooperation with other states and • The third programme (2003-2007) focused on international organisations. the development of space technologies, which took into account the new tendencies in space Ukraine wishes to be considered as one of the activities and the need for economic and six world leaders in space with technologies in scientific-technical progress of the country.

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• The objectives of the fourth programme (2008- • Launchers (Sea Launch, Land Launch, Dnepr) 2012) are: and mainly (with high priority) Cyclone-4, in cooperation with Brazil. - Orientation towards specific customer.

- Development and utilisation of advanced Sea Launch technologies and new design methods. - Creation of the conditions under which the In 1995, State Design Office Yuzhnoye and space technologies can be used in other Production Association Yuzhmash, together with branches of the economy and commercia- Boeing (USA), Kvaerner (Norway) and Energia lisation of space activities. (Russia) set up the Sea Launch Joint Venture to - Re-equipment of the technical basis and implement the Sea Launch Project. For that development of a common technological purpose, the Ukrainian Zenit-2 launch vehicle environment in the space sector. was upgraded into a three-stage launcher - Multilateral and international cooperation. (Zenit-3SL). Development and implementation of the project were performed on a fully 2. The Current Situation commercial basis without the involvement of any government funds, but under the control and Overview with the support of state enterprises. The Cooperation between EU and Ukraine has been launches were performed from a marine successfully developed, starting from the early platform located on the equator in the Pacific years of Ukraine’s independence, and currently Ocean, thus allowing for the maximum use of embraces several initiatives, such as the the effect of the Earth’s rotation and permitting cooperation on the Global Navigation Satellite to orbit satellites with smaller power Systems EGNOS and Galileo, as well as the consumption, especially to geostationary orbits. joint use of Ukraine’s ground satellite telemetry The sea segment, which was the responsibility stations. The Twinning project between the EU of the Norwegian Kvaerner company, included and SSAU, from 2006 to 2009, has been a very the assembly and control ship Sea Launch important step that contributed to a larger Commander (with the flight control centre and cooperation between Ukraine and Europe.1 other technical instruments on board) and the Odyssey launch platform (for the preparation Ukraine is one of Europe’s neighbouring and launch of the rockets). countries with the most significant space research and exploration capabilities. The rocket segment, for which the Russian Rocket-Space Corp. Energia was responsible, consisted of a three-stage launch vehicle and SSAU gives special attention to the the technical hardware necessary for its development of competitive launch vehicles and preparation and launching. These instruments spacecrafts, modern space telecommunication were developed by the Russian Design Bureau and information systems, use and dissemination of Transport Machinery and RSC Energia. The of information obtained during Earth observation space vehicle included: and space exploration. As mentioned, the basis for the Ukrainian space activity is the National • The two-stage Zenit-2S launch vehicle Space Programme. The main priorities of the developed by Yuzhnoye and manufactured by current programme, which covers the period Yuzhmash. 2008-2012, are: • The acceleration module DM-SL (third stage) developed by the Energia Corporation. • Earth observation: the Sich-2 satellite for • The payload module developed by the Boeing measuring neutral atmosphere and ionosphere Company. plasma parameters is expected to be launched in the second half of 2011. The spacecraft segment included a base port in • A space science series of Russian-led space the U.S. (Long Beach, California) designed to projects with Ukrainian participation, such as support the preparation of the spacecrafts, the Koronas-F (2009), Spektr-Radioastron (2011), mooring of the launch platform and the Resonans (2012) and the Russian-Ukrainian assembly and control vessel, the fueling of the programme for the International Space Station. components, and the loading of the launch • Space navigation (a joint activity with the vehicle stages, acceleration and payload Russian Glonass project). modules onto the assembly and control ship. Boeing was responsible for operating the base port. On 28 March 1999, the first launch of the new Zenit-3 SL vehicle was performed. It 1 For more information: Twinning Programme Administration confirmed the operability of the entire system, Office in Ukraine http://twinning.com.ua/index.php .

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the reliability of the launch vehicle and the As it was mentioned above, in late July 2010 the quality of the launch services. As of April 2009, it Bankruptcy Court of Delaware finally approved had launched thirty rockets, with two failures the plan to reorganise the consortium proposed (NSS-8 in January 2007 and ICO-F1 in March by a subsidiary of Russia's RSC Energia, 2000) and one partial failure.2 Energia Overseas Ltd. (EOL). EOL acquired the right to buy an 85% stake in the reorganised In June 2009, Sea Launch voluntarily declared consortium in exchange for a pledge to provide itself bankrupt in accordance with paragraph 11 $30 million for operating costs, invest in equity of the U.S. bankruptcy laws. Boeing was a 40% $140 million and give access to working capital owner of Sea Launch, and in addition to its by an additional $200 million. The remaining equity stake it issued guarantees to the launch- 15% would go to the five biggest creditors of services provider to facilitate its operations. As a Sea Launch: the communications’ satellite result, the bankruptcy filing and resulting Sea operators Intelsat Ltd., SkyTerra LP, Hughes Launch default on its loans has hit Boeing much Network Systems LLC, SES Americom Inc. and harder than the other Sea Launch shareholders Sirius XM Satellite Radio Inc. In exchange for (RSC Energia of Russia, with a 25% equity the investment, RSC Energia would acquire the stake; Aker ASA of Norway, 20%; and Ukrainian launching infrastructure of Sea Launch, hardware builders Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash, including the launch platform Odyssey and the with a combined 15% ownership). assembly and command ship Sea Launch Commander, which were based at the California Boeing paid $448 million to Sea Launch port of Long Beach, allowing it to control the creditors. Boeing said that under the terms of international space project completely. Ukrainian the loan guarantee, it should be reimbursed by companies Yuzhmash and Yuzhnoye that Sea Launch’s other owners so that Boeing’s owned a 10% and 5% stake in Sea Launch liability does not exceed 40 percent of the total, respectively would cease to be shareholders of or $179.2 million. In addition, Boeing had lent the consortium, left as simple contractors for the Sea Launch $523 million, which came due when production of rockets, for launch both from the Sea Launch filed for Chapter 11 protection. ocean platform Odyssey and the space port of Consequently, Boeing filed a demand for Baikonur. In the mean time, Boeing has not arbitration in Sweden to force Sea Launch’s abandoned its effort to collect $356 million from Russian and Ukrainian owners to repay $147 Sea Launch.3 million in loan guarantees Boeing made to Sea Launch (Form 8-K of 24 June 2009). If Sea Launch and I nte rnational Launch Services (ILS) manage to coordinate their In April 2010, RSC Energia acquired control of activities in launching heavy satellites Sea Launch. Immediately following this with Proton rockets, they would both development, Energia Oversees Limited (EOL), strengthen their global market positions. the subsidiary of RSC Energia that controlled Sea Launch, presented in May 2010 the bankruptcy court of Delaware with a plan to The new shareholders have announced their reorganise the company adopted by the other decision to resume launches during the third shareholders and its major creditors. quarter of 2011. Sea Launch Company successfully completed its Chapter 11 On 12 July 2010, Sea Launch announced the reorganisation process on 27 October 2010. conclusion of a contract with the Hong Kong Furthermore, the operations’ centre of the space based telecommunications company AsiaSat to infrastructure of the Russian Aviation and Space launch a satellite between 2012 and 2014. A Agency announced that the operators of Zenith similar announcement came on 22 July for a were working to improve the lift capacity contract with the American EchoStar Satellite characteristics of the Ukrainian launch vehicle Services LCC for the launch of three more from 1 to 4.5 tons, for payloads launched from satellites at an unspecified date. The willingness the Baikonur Cosmodrome to Geosynchronous of EOL to revive the Sea Launch contributed to Transfer Orbit. From the above mentioned a favorable court decision, and finally on 27 July developments, it is clear that if Sea Launch the reorganisation plan, as submitted by RSC manages to coordinate its activities with Energia, was approved. The company’s International Launch Services (ILS), the other Ukrainian partners had a positive view on the Russian company engaged in the launch of potential take over of the project by their heavy satellites with the use of Proton rockets, Russian counterparts. 3 De Selding, Peter B. “Boeing Still Seeking $356 Million from 2 This was the DirecTV-11 mission, in March 2008. Sea Launch Partners”. Space News 10 Feb. 2011: 6.

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then both companies would strengthen their Governing the Activities of States in the market positions against their main competitors, Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including namely Ariane 5 and Delta 4. the Moon and other Celestial Bodies (1967) and the Agreement on the Establishment of a Land Launch Common Science and Technology Area among the members of the Commonwealth of Land Launch is a subsidiary of Sea Launch, Independent States (CIS) in 1995. SSAU has conducting commercial launches of Zenit signed 38 intergovernmental and inter-agency rockets from Baikonur. It operates the two-stage agreements with 16 countries. Ukraine is a Zenit-2 SLB and the three stage Zenit-3 SLB. member of many international organisations, Four successful launches have been operated such as the United Nations Committee on the with ZENIT-3 SLB: Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), - On 28 April 2008 (payload: AMOS 3). the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) - On 26 February 2009 (payload: Telstar 11N). and the Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination - On 22 June 2009 (payload: Measat 3a). Committee (IADC). - On 30 November 2009 (payload: Intelsat 15). Law on Space Activities 4 Land Launch missions differ from Sea Launch missions in the use of the Zenit-3 SLB launcher, The Law on Space Activities was adopted by as opposed to the Zenit-3 SL. However, Land the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) on Launch configurations are closely derived from 11 Nov. 1996 (VVRU, 1997). All regulations in the Sea Launch system. Propulsion systems in the area of space activities in Ukraine are particular and all of the flight critical avionics are governed by this law and by subsequent unchanged. The fairings represent the most legislative acts adopted in conformity with this significant difference. In stead of the Boeing- law. The main objectives of the law are to: made fairing used on Sea Launch, the Zenit-3 • Contribute to the socio-economic development SLB adopts a 4-meter fairing made by NPO and the scientific progress of Ukraine and to Lavochkin. The Zenit-2SLB fairing is an the welfare of its citizens. improved version of the one used in Zenit-2. • Create a strong support for export in the space Dnepr Launcher sector. • Ensure access to outer space. The Dnepr launcher is a converted missile • Protect Ukrainian strategic interests in relation based on the R-36 MUTTH ICBM, designed by to national security and defence capabilities. the State Design Office Yuzhnoye. Its control • Foster the development of education. system is developed and produced by the JSC Khartron, in Kharkiv. It is a three-stage rocket, using storable hypergolic liquid propellants. The The existence in Ukraine of numerous launch vehicles are withdrawn from service with presidential decrees on space activities’ the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces and stored legislation testifies to the country’s strong policy commitment to space. for commercial use. A group of 150 ICBMs can be converted for use and be available until 2020. The Dnepr rocket can be launched from The law is implemented according to the Baikonur in Kazakhstan and a newly created following three main principles: Cosmodrome at the Dombarovsky launch base • Development of a policy in relation to the near Yasny, in the Orenburg region of Russia. exploration and use of outer space. Its first launch was realised on 21 April 1999, • Exploitation of the scientific and technical and before entering into commercial service the potential of Ukraine linked to the national ICBM version was launched over 160 times with economy. a reliability of 97%. Up to now, the rocket has • been used fourteen times for commercial Implementation of international cooperation in purposes, with only a single failure. favour of the country’s national interests. According to these objectives and principles, the 3. Legislation implementation of the law is managed by SSAU, Space activities in Ukraine are based on a with the following competences in the domain of space policy and space activities: complex legislation, including the Law on Space Activities (1996) and the Law on State Support for Space Activities (2000). Ukraine has signed all the major international treaties concerning 4 space, such as the Treaty on Principles An unofficial English translation of the law has been used for this analysis

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• Formulating the conceptual basis for the categories: development and test of space Ukrainian space policy. products, manufacturing and operations. • Setting up the organization of space activities in Ukraine and under Ukrainian jurisdiction Space Facilities abroad. The certification of space facilities is covered by • Preparing the national space programme, in article 12 of the law: “ Any space facility in collaboration with other authorities, such as Ukraine shall be subject to certification attesting Ministries and the Ukrainian National Academy to its compliance with operating requirements of Sciences. established by the regulatory texts in force in • Coordinating the institutions, organisations Ukraine, with subsequent issuance of a and companies engaged in space activities. compliance certificate ”. Certification procedures • Acting as the general state customer for shall be determined by the Ukrainian Space contracts in scientific research relating to Technology Certification System, which shall space activities. operate as part of a State Certification System. • Maintaining and improving the country’s space facilities. The registration “shall be subject to mandatory • Licensing space activities in Ukraine and State registration in the State Register of Space under Ukrainian jurisdiction abroad. Facilities of Ukraine in accordance with • Developing the Ukrainian Space Technology Regulations governing the registration of space Certification System. facilities in Ukraine, subject to approval by the • Developing cooperation with other states and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine”. A space facility ensuring their continuity. registered shall be issued with a registration • Improving foreign trade relations. certificate. In addition, “ the registration of a • Participating in the preparation of international space facility in the Register of Space Facilities treaties. of another State shall not be recognised by Ukraine unless that facility is also registered in Regulations the State Register of space facilities in Ukraine”.

The regulations for space activities include Ukrainian State Certification System operating standards for space facilities and procedures for: There is an obligation to certify products listed on the “List of Products Liable to Obligatory • Licensing of space activities. Certification in Ukraine”. This list is approved • Certifying and registering space facilities. under the “Order of State Department on • Organising and performing space launches, Consumer Standards of Ukraine”.5 Certification including certifying the respect of safety and encompasses the following steps: environmental protection regulations. • • Conducting search and rescue operations and Considering a certification application. • investigating incidents. Submitting the necessary documentation. • • Constructing and maintaining ground facilities. Analysing the documentation. • • Training space facilities’ personnel. Deciding on the issue. • • Implementing measures to protect the Identifying sample products for testing. country’s space activities. • Certifying the products’ samples testing. • Analysing the results and deciding to award Space Activities the certification. • Issuing (or not) the certificate and the licensing Regarding the licensing of space activities, it is agreement and registering the products. indicated in article 10 of the law that “ any space facility engaging or intending to engage in space Space products are subject to this process and activities in Ukraine or under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian State Certification System has Ukraine outside its borders shall be required to been adopted by SSAU by the implementation have a license from the SSAU for the pursuit of of the appropriate standards. such activity ”. The list of the activities, subject of licensing, shall be established under the law and 4. Perspectives the procedures shall be prepared by the Cabinet As we have seen, Ukraine has important of Ministers. In the case of space products, the capabilities in space industry. The space sector activities that are subject to licensing (mainly is rightly considered by the government as one launch vehicles, spacecrafts and relative equipment) are distinguished into three 5 N 466 10746 of 4 May 2005. All information is available on the website http://www.dssu.gov.ua .

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of the main assets of Ukraine and a possible Vostochny Spaceport area of cooperation with the other main space The new Russian space port in Vostochny will actors. Among them, cooperation with Brazil for provide independent space access for Russia, Cyclone-4 LV and the US with Orbital Sciences including human spaceflight missions, according Corp. is very important. to Russian officials. This new spaceport, located

in the Amur region (near China – 51°) should be Cyclone-4 LV ready for the first launch by 2015. The In 2004, the State Enterprise of the Ministry of Vostochny spaceport project will be Defence of Ukraine “Central Project Institute” implemented in stages, with construction due to started developing the project to launch begin this year. The launch of the first manned Cyclone-4 LV from the Brazilian launch site of mission to the International Space Station from Alcantara. In 2005-2006 this Institute and Vostochny is scheduled for 2018. At present, Yuzhnoye elaborated their preliminary design Russia's main spaceport is Baikonur, which is proposals. The project was completed in 2009 under a lease agreement from the Kazakh and the preliminary technical points of the government until 2050. On 12 April 2011, Russia launch complex were defined. The main facilities offered Ukraine to join the Vostochny spaceport of the technical complex would consist of: project. Keeping in mind that Ukraine doesn't have its own space port, it could be a new • Launch vehicle assembly, integration and opportunity to access launch facilities. testing building. • Spacecraft assembly, integration and testing Relations with the EU building. • Lifting-Transport vehicle preparation facility. After the SSAU structural reorganisation of the • Launch vehicle storage building. space sector in 2001, the EU Delegation in • Transportation vehicle storage building. Ukraine realised that supporting Ukraine’s space sector would further strengthen the links The Cyclone-4 space-rocket complex was between Ukraine and Europe. The European presented in September 2010. On 24 November Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) provides for a 2010 the Session of the Board of Directors of coherent approach that ensures that EU is Alcantara Cyclone Space Binational Company committed to deeper relations with all EU (ACS) was held at SSAU headquarters in Kyiv. neighbours. At the same time, it allows to According to the agreement between Ukraine develop tailor-made relations with each country. and Brazil on the long-term cooperation in using Since its launch in 2004, the ENP has the Cyclone-4 launch vehicle at the Alcantara transformed the relations between the EU and Launching Centre, ACS bears the responsibility its neighbours, resulting in an important increase for the development and operation of the ground of trade, political contacts, mobility between infrastructure for the space rocket system ENP partners and EU funding within FP7. Cyclone-4. During this session of the ACS Board of Directors, the Cyclone-4 Action Plan for 2011 The entering into force of the Lisbon was discussed, approved and formalised by the Treaty has the potential to create great signing of a corresponding Protocol. Currently, new opportunities for European-Ukrainian the two countries are jointly preparing for the cooperation. vehicle’s first launch, scheduled for 2012.6

Taurus II LV Furthermore, the Lisbon Treaty commits the EU to the “development of a special relationship Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash signed in 2008 a long- with neighbouring countries aiming to establish term cooperation contract with the US Orbital an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, Sciences Corp. for producing Taurus-II rockets founded on the values of the Union and until 2019. The first stage of Orbital Sciences characterised by close and peaceful relations Corp. Taurus II LV is produced by the State based on cooperation”. For that purpose “the EU Design Office Yuzhnoye. Ukraine has recently may conclude specific agreements with the delivered the first stage of the Taurus II LV to its countries concerned” (art. 8). partner in the US and preparation for producing the second stage has already begun. So far, A Twinning Project 7 was prepared at the end of eight launches have been scheduled. 2006 and implemented in 2007-2010, with the objective to accelerate the approach between

7 This was officially labelled Framework Contract 6 More information in: www.brazilianspace.blogspot.com . 2006/122182 .

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Ukraine and the European Union in the area of focuses on scientific research and innovation space activities and to enhance institutional, directly relevant to the needs of the European scientific, industrial cooperation and development. industry, with a view to enhancing international The purpose of the Twinning Project was to European competitiveness and improving the support Ukraine in participating to the European quality of life. Research Area and to European space programmes, to develop its research and The purpose of JSO-ERA is to raise public technological capabilities in the service of the awareness on EU Research & Development economy and the society, and to bring its (R&D) activities within the FP7, by providing legislation and standards closer to those of the information and technical assistance on the EU. The results were covered by a contract participation modalities; to ensure coordination; between SSAU, DLR (Germany) and CNES to implement the R&D priorities identified in the (France). The general objective of this contract policy dialogues with Ukraine; to increase the was to help SSAU strengthen its coordination opportunity for Ukraine’s research and business with EU space agencies and more precisely to: communities to join EU networks that support • innovation and the commercialisation of R&D Prepare Ukraine’s integration in the European outputs; to ensure the institutional strengthening Research Area. • of the Ministry of Education and Science; and to Develop technological research capabilities in encourage the participation of Ukrainian R&D the service of the economy and the society. institutions and SMEs in European programmes • Realise high-level scientific exchanges and on innovation and technology transfer. make further progress in mutual cooperation in space. The expected results of this project are to establish a network of national focal points for In the future, the law of Ukraine on Space FP7; to increase interest in opportunities Activities should be adapted to European generated by FP7 and other EU-funded R&D legal standards, especially in the field of programmes; to integrate Ukraine into the EU safety requirements. R&D networks; to encourage more Ukrainian

researchers, SMEs and business communities In the final report of the Twinning Project, it was to participate in the FP7; and to foster recommended to draft new legislative texts in government support for innovative R&D. The conclusion of this project is scheduled for accordance with the European practices, and in 8 particular to adapt the “Law of Ukraine on Space December 2011. Activities” to the European legal standards. It was especially pointed out that the safety Relations with ESA requirements were not in line with the United For a long time, cooperation between SSAU and Nations Treaty of 1967. For example, the ESA was very limited. However, after several provisions of the Ukrainian legislation do not offer meetings three bilateral working groups were set fair distribution of the compensative responsibility up in 2010, regarding space and environment, between the State and the space operator, in all ground stations and launches. Their objective cases of damage caused to third parties during an was to establish new levels of coordination, authorised operation. Furthermore, they were including the participation of Ukrainian found lacking in guarantying compensation to the institutions and design bureaus into European victims, securing space activities and limiting the space projects. This new approach signified an burden on the public budget. Finally, concerning important step forward, since previously the the safety of the relations between the actors of coordination was held at an enterprise level the spatial sector, the law should limit the (under the VEGA project), or at a scientific possibilities of appeal between participants in the institution level. Galileo and GMES were operation, and establish a suitable regime of identified as possible areas of cooperation. responsibility. SSAU has prepared proposals to take part into A follow-up of the Twinning project is now GMES activities. In view of space policy implemented by the EU-funded project "Joint priorities, the goals and objectives of the Support Office for enhancing Ukraine's National Space Programme and the decisions of integration into the European Research Area” the Ukraine-EU Joint ad hoc Working Group on (JSO-ERA) for a larger participation of Ukraine Space Research and the Peaceful Use of Outer into FP7. A number of successful workshops has been already organised to that effect. FP7 8 runs from 2007 to 2013, with a total budget of More information in JSO-ERA Newsletters: approximately €50 billion and its main priority http://jso-era.org/en/newsletter.html .

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Space, SSAU had initiated the development of a its cooperation with Europe in the field of GMES-Ukraine project, aiming at the creation of space activities and to strive for the status of Ukrainian GMES segments. Leading institutions an associated ESA member. have been working on implementing Ukraine’s Other such objectives include: the participation participation in GMES. Research organisations of Ukrainian institutions in the most important within the National Academy of Sciences, environmental monitoring and space research universities and other institutions are involved. projects; the intensification of information These are the main objectives of concept exchange and space data acquisition; the studies conducted so far: promotion of the commercial use of space • Analysis of current customer needs and technologies; the participation of Ukrainian expected benefits for Ukraine from GMES. experts in solving global and European • Analysis of the current state of affairs in EU- problems; the dissemination of space Ukraine cooperation on Earth observation. knowledge; and the enhancement of Ukrainian • Realisation of assessment studies in possible youth’s interest in space exploration. On specific priority areas. areas of space science research, ESA has • Identification of potential project areas and of demonstrated its interest for the ground facilities Ukrainian institutions’ capabilities. of the Yevpatoria Space Center (antennas for • Drafting proposals on organisational aspects deep space mission control), while the Ukrainian and management structures of the Ukrainian side has proposed a cooperation for monitoring GMES segment. the ionosphere.

5. Conclusion Ukrainian institution’s participation in GMES is considered as an instrument for After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia the further integration of Ukrainian space has sought to maintain and develop its technologies in European space projects. traditional links with the Ukrainian space industry

and a large part of the components and From an operational stand point, GMES could equipments used by Ukraine were of Russian clearly correspond to important Ukrainian needs origin. Furthermore, Ukraine does not currently in the field of Earth observation. These would have a spaceport of its own. However, despite include: the important and recurrent changes in its policy, Ukraine is trying to give priority to cooperating • The necessity to use information from space with the European Union and the European for the objectives of sustainable development, Space Agency (including in the GMES, Galileo, environmental and technological systems and Vega programmes), while pursuing a policy monitoring and scientific research. Ukraine of cooperation with other major space-faring aspires to multiply its space information nations. sources and augment environment monitoring products’ quality, by using modern European The European inclination of Ukraine meets the geo-information systems and databases. European Union’s policy objective to bring this • The implementation of the national policy goal country closer to Europe. In Ukraine, the of stepping up R&D and technological postulate was that the country should be innovation and increasing the scientific and involved in a balanced international cooperation, technical levels of the country’s society to EU by seeking cooperation with western companies. standards. Cooperation with the EU in science Nevertheless, due to a lack of resources made and technology (especially in the space worse by the economic crisis, Ukraine is facing sector) is considered in Ukraine as a decisive important constraints. During the coming years, factor for achieving economic development space activities in Ukraine will be shared based on innovation. between its former relationship with Russia • The political decision to integrate Ukraine in (such as the recent offer by Russia to participate European structures. Strengthening integration at the creation of the Vostochny spaceport), and with the EU is one of the country’s foreign the prospects of stronger relations with the EU. policy priorities. Ukraine intends to strengthen

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