Yanukovych approves Ukrainian space program for 2013-2017
KYIV. Sept 30 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a law, "On the Approval of the State Target Scientific and Technological Space Program for 2013-2017," endorsed by the parliament on September 5, the presidential website reported on Monday.
The program is focused on the creation of a geo-information support system and emergency situations monitoring from outer space, the launch of three satellites (the Sich-2-1 Earth observation satellite, the Microsat scientific and technological satellite, and the UMS-1 university satellite), the deployment of the Tsiklon-4 launch site at the Brazilian Alcantara Space Center, the development of the Lybid national satellite communication network, the creation of new space rockets and their production technologies, the commercial use of Tsiklon-4, Zenit-2SLB, Zenit-3SLB (Land Launch), Zenit-3SL (Sea Launch) and Dnepr launch vehicles and the Lybid national satellite communication network, international cooperation with Russia, EU member countries, Brazil, Canada, Belarus, the United States and Kazakhstan, and broader contacts with the European Space Agency.
The program pledges the guaranteed provision of space services, data transmission and navigation support to executive authorities operating in the areas of national security and defense, as well as fundamental space research in astrophysics, space biology and material science, the use of land stations in international scientific experiments and the implementation of scientific and educational programs.
The approximate allocations for the program will reach 2.58 billion hryvni, including 1.12 billion assigned from the state budget.
This is the fifth space program of independent Ukraine and the first stage of the fulfillment of the state space policy concept for the period until 2032 and the related action plan.
The official exchange rate is 7.993 hryvni to the dollar as of September 30.
