Space industry: Minister tells of funding expectations

The Ukrainian government could approve the concept of a national space program before year-end, hopes Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleh Urusky.

"We have submitted it recently, Urusky told RFE/RL's Ukrainian service.

"I think that this year, we will approve the concept. And then we will immediately start approving the national program. I hope, if we look realistically, early next year we will table it in the Verkhovna Rada because it is in Parliament where the program shall be approved," said Urusky.

Besides the government sector of financing, the program envisages efforts to attract major foreign investment.

Read alsoUkraine strikes deal with NASA on Moon, Mars exploration"We need to work to this end. But the segment of remote sensing of the planet and the research segment should remain at the government level. I stand for having them financed from the national budget. Satellite communications, however, as well as navigation, launch vehicles of various types – I mean those for ground or air launch – should be funded exclusively through commercial projects," Urusky added.

Law on the regulation of space activities

On October 29, 2019, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the latest amendments to legislation on the State Regulation of Space Activities (No. 143-IX).