Pivdenne Design Bureau
Ukraine lost contact with its small Sich-2 remote sensing satellite in December 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleh Urusky says Ukraine has selected Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch its satellite for remote sensing of the Earth, Sich 2-30 (2-1).
"This is a foreign company, since we really have a window to launch the satellite in December with the help of a foreign operator, namely SpaceX, with which we are cooperating in terms of compatibility with the launch vehicle. I think, it'll become clear in the near future whether it's even possible to do this," he told Pershyi Dilovyi TV channel on February 11.
Urusky also said that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who had initiated the process.
Earlier, the minister visited Dnipro-based state-owned Pivdenmash (Yuzhmash) and Pivdenne (Yuzhnoe) Design Bureau to check the actual condition of the satellite.
"The last time we launched a major Earth remote sensing satellite was 10 years ago. Therefore, it's really an outstanding event for us... Today, the spacecraft is almost ready. It only requires finalized analysis, as well as operational and technical checks of launch readiness. We're now working intensively with a potential company that provides launch services, since it's not so easy," he added.
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Earth remote sensing satellites are needed to monitor the planet's surface using a variety of equipment. The data obtained is usually used to study the Earth's natural resources and solve meteorological issues.
In December 2012, Ukraine lost contact with its small Sich-2 remote sensing spacecraft, whose next modification Sich 2-1 has been developed over the past years within the national space research program.
In early February, Urusky said that President Zelensky had ordered that the satellite Sich 2-30 (former 2-1) to be launched into the Earth orbit by the end of 2021, the 30th anniversary of the country's independence.