Shortly after the start of Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, the government of Ukraine sent a membership request to the European Space Agency (ESA), but in fact was refused. This is reported by SpaceNews.
Europe has denied Ukraine immediate membership in ESA because such issues take time. "This is an important decision, and it cannot be taken very quickly," said the head of the organization, Josef Aschbacher.
According to him, such decisions are not taken immediately. "This is not something that will happen tomorrow," he said.
Ashbacher clarified that the granting of full membership in ESA is a multi—year process.
At the same time, the head of the agency added that ESA considers the provision of satellite data as a possible assistance to Ukraine.
In January 2020, the head of the ESA representative office in Russia, Rene Pichel, said that all Ukrainian and Russian components in the Italian Vega light rocket would be removed. "Basically, the goal of the evolutionary improvements of the Vega rocket within the framework of ESA development programs is to move towards increasing competitiveness and further Europeanization. The third and fourth Vega stages will be replaced in the Vega E rocket," the manager said.
