In an era where space monitoring has become an integral part of national security, the question of developing Ukraine's own space industry is no longer theoretical. It is a matter of the state's survival. However, the path to the constellations lies through a harsh reality: the loss of technological capabilities and the need for huge capital investments.
Oleg Fedorov, a leading researcher and former director of the Institute of Space Research of the NAS of Ukraine, outlined a complex picture in a conversation with RBC-Ukraine. According to him, the country has lost the lion's share of the technologies it once possessed. The State Space Agency is indeed working on a new program, but creating fundamentally new developments alone is impossible today. The only viable scenario is close international cooperation.
Demonstration Projects Instead of Telecommunications
The situation in the satellite industry is not standing still. Within the walls of KPI (National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute"), teams are already working in partnership with international organizations to create demonstration satellites. This is an encouraging signal, however, experts immediately make it clear: we are not talking about large-scale telecommunications systems.
Fedorov stated directly that the creation of domestic telecommunications satellites in the coming years is unlikely. History knows of only one attempt to build such a satellite with the involvement of foreign partners — the "Lybid" project, which, unfortunately, ended in failure. At the same time, Ukrainian engineers have a successful track record of creating satellites for space observation, such as the "Sich" series.
The Main Problem — Lack of a Unified Strategy
To restore space activity, a fundamental audit is necessary. It is necessary to assess the state of enterprises, production capacities, funds, and, most importantly, the human resources potential. The expert emphasizes: much has been lost, and without an objective assessment of resources, it is meaningless to move forward.
The paradox of the situation is that Ukraine has an objective need for space technologies, and the international community is ready to help. But at the national level, there is no unified vision for the development of the industry. Existing efforts are fragmented and do not form a systematic approach. Without its own space assets, it is impossible to ensure the full security of the state, and this must become the catalyst for uniting resources and will.