The State Design Bureau Yuzhnoye named after M. K. Yangel of Ukraine has signed a contract with ISILAUNCH for the launch of the Sich 2-30 (2-1) remote sensing satellite from the SpaceX launch pad. This was announced on Monday, May 31, by the Minister for Strategic Industries of the country Oleg Urusky.
"The State Enterprise" Yuzhnoye Design Bureau named after M. K. Yangel "has signed a contract with the European company ISILAUNCH for the launch of the Sich-2-30 spacecraft into orbit," the message posted on the Ukrainian Minister's Facebook page says.
He also stressed that the corresponding launch will have to take place from the SpaceX launch pad using the Falcon-9 launch vehicle, namely, ISILAUNCH has the necessary agreement with the American organization and is authorized to sell services for the withdrawal of the accompanying payload to the Falcon-9, as well as the provision of appropriate engineering services and material.
Urusky added that at the moment an advance payment has been made, and the direct launch of the spacecraft is planned for December of this year. The reserve date is January 2022.
It is noted that at present, "The Yuzhnoye Design Bureau and the National Center for Control and Testing of Space Assets are working on preparing for the launch of the satellite and the ground segment, which will solve" many urgent tasks of a socio-economic, environmental, informational, scientific and educational nature, as well as ensure the implementation of the state's interests in the field of national security and defense."
Earlier, on April 12, the head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Vladimir Taftay, announced the agency's intention to offer the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, cooperation in the development of joint projects.
On January 13, it became known that the government of Ukraine approved the concept of the national space program for 2021-2025, it is planned to spend about 30 billion hryvnia ($1.07 billion) on its implementation.
