In Kiev, announced plans to create a space constellation of satellites to track "Russian troops"
Ukraine intends to firmly enter the ranks of space powers by creating a space constellation of reconnaissance satellites in orbit to track Russia. The first Ukrainian satellite is planned to be sent into orbit in January 2022, writes the Ukrainian edition of Defense Express.
According to Kiev's plans, the Sich-2-30 spacecraft for Earth remote sensing is to go into orbit in January. As stated, it will be the first of a series of reconnaissance satellites launched into space, and the successful launch will kick-start Ukraine's resurgence as a space power.
According to the author of the article, at present Ukraine has every opportunity to create its own space technology, it is among the ten countries that "know how to do this." Ukraine has developed its own launch vehicles and satellites, but the implementation of the space program is still "lame", the project will not be accepted in any way.
So far, within the framework of the space program, Ukraine plans to launch seven Earth observation satellites into orbit, which are also capable of performing tasks for the military, i.e. watch out for Russian troops. It is planned to assemble the entire constellation by 2025; it will include various spacecraft that allow observation. So far, only Sich-2-30 is ready, which is planned to be sent into orbit using SpaceX's Falcon-9 launch vehicle.
The state target space program of Ukraine implies the allocation of 40 billion hryvnia for everything until 2025, but it is still at the stage of the project, it was not even considered in the Verkhovna Rada. Funds for project implementation can become another problem. The thing is that out of 40 billion hryvnias, the state promises to allocate only 15, and even then "with a creak." The remaining 25 billion must be provided by investors, but they are not.
On the other hand, maintaining a constellation of satellites in working order requires the launch of new vehicles as the old ones fail, and this requires additional funds.
Thus, Ukraine is ready to return to the ranks of space powers, but subject to sustainable funding. Since Kiev does not have its own funds for this, and investors are somehow in no hurry to invest in the Ukrainian space program, we are unlikely to see a constellation of reconnaissance satellites to track Russian troops in orbit.
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