The Zenit rocket is a favorite of Musk. As Russia continues its bloody siege, the country may soon be in ruins. However, the country's former space boss told Space.com that he still has hopes for the future and believes the Ukraine could help fill Russia's shoes in international collaborations.
The Ukrainian Space Agency has 16,000 employees. A legacy institution from the Soviet era, the agency controls 20 state-run corporations centered in what Volodymyr Usov, its former chairman, calls Ukraine's space cluster.
Over 100 launch vehicles a year are built by the Dnipro-based Yuzhmash and Yuzhnoye enterprises. The companies are best known in the west for designing and manufacturing the first stages for the Antares rocket, which launches the Cygnus cargo vehicle to the International Space Station. Yuzhnoye makes engines for Europe's Vega rockets.
Usov told Space.com that the research and manufacturing facilities are worth billions of dollars. Russian troops have avoided the facilities so far, but the situation might change as fighting ends on Dnipro.
Usov said that the Russians were avoiding them because they wanted to use them for their purposes. Any day it can change. Youzmash will never recover from two strikes.
The US launch providers are looking at the situation in Russia.
Usov is worried about the threat of technological loss. The facilities, which also develop a new generation of solid fuel rocket motors, store huge amounts of toxic chemicals that would leak into the environment if hit by Russia's missiles.
Usov said it would be a huge ecological catastrophe. It would be a huge environmental disaster for Europe.
Despite the onslaught of Russian invaders, Usov appears to have faith in the future of the space industry in Ukraine. The person spoke to Space.com. On the sixth day of the invasion. He had just arrived in his hometown after a week in the heavily shelled city of Kyiv.
Missile attacks and bombing began on February 24. People are underground. Babies being born underground is crazy to see in the 21st century.
Things have been relatively calm in the city of Odessa, which has a population of 1 million and 25% of them are Russian. Things can change soon.
Usov said that Russia is attacking mostly Kiev and Kharkiv. They are completely amazed to see that nobody is supporting Russia.
Usov doesn't mince words when it comes to Ukraine's relationship with Russia in the space sector. He believes that Russia has been interfering in the affairs of Ukraine for a long time.
He said that Russia wanted them to be their partner and do things on their terms.
He said that Russia used their political influence to pressure Brazil to pull out of the project. The project was stopped one year after the annexation of the formerly Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
The project was closed because of the tension after Brazil spent $500 million on it.
Despite the large number of Russian troops and the amount of equipment that is being used to destroy Ukraine, he still hopes that the country can overcome the aggression and become a bigger player in the international space sector.
Usov wants to shift Ukraine's state-controlled space operations towards a more western-style model where start-ups and innovative companies can thrive.
Usov co-founded two start-ups, one focused on in-orbit satellite servicing and the other on space debris removal.
He wants to open Ukraine to the world and show that it can be a trustworthy partner. Before the war started, we were working on new legislation that would allow private companies to build space technology in Ukraine.
Usov has reservations about the western continued cooperation with Russia following the annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The Ukrainian perspective is that the space industry is not taking stock of the partnership in light of Russia's actions.
Usov said that the European nations and the U.S. understand what Russia can bring to the table. If you partner with Russia, you take responsibility for the crimes of the innocent people who die. My message to everyone is: go Zenit. We will be ready for the task if you cut ties with Russia and bring in Ukraine.
The odds are against Ukraine, but it has already surprised the world with its defiance. Russia hasn't said the last word. A convoy of Russian army vehicles was spotted by satellites on Tuesday. There have been reports of heavy shelling and widespread destruction from several areas.
What does Usov think about the outcome of the game?
The young generation of professionals in the space industry will leave, they already have a lot of opportunities abroad. They choose to work there with low salaries because they are proud of what they are doing. If Russia takes over that enterprise, they will leave. The older generation knows that things will change, they have seen it change many times. They will be the keepers of the enterprise until we get it back.
Follow Tereza Pultarova on social media. Follow us on social media.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
