Ukrainian Cyclone Breaks Through the World Space Market

An intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful exploration of outer space was signed last Thursday in Kyiv by Oleksandr Nehoda, Director General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NKAU), and Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg, Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology. NKAU deputy director Eduard Kuznetsov told The Day that this will implement the multilateral project of establishing, on the basis of the Alcanta Brazilian space center, a launching complex for the Cyclone-4 Ukrainian carrier- rocket.

Mr. Kuznetsov states that the rocket itself is the absolute know- how of the Ukrainian science and industry. In particular, the three- stage carrier Cyclone-4 differs fundamentally from earlier Cyclone- type rockets. Among the main design innovations in this rocket are a third stage with a 30% or more fuel reserve, up-to-date high-precision avionics (guidance and remote-sensing systems), multiple- firing capability of the third-stage engine, and the top stage with an enlarged payload compartment. In addition, the procedure of the carrier-rocket assembly and transportation on the launching complex has been modernized. The Cyclone-4 can now serve as a basis for building a family of rockets by means of equipping the first stage with solid-propellant boosters, liquid modules, and fuel tanks in various combinations.

NKAU told The Day that the Cyclone-4 carrier-rocket will be developed by the Pivdenne state design bureau, with other Ukrainian enterprises to be deeply involved in the development of the rocket’s component systems according to the work-sharing plan.

Incidentally, besides the Pivdenne design bureau, the Pivdenny Machine-Building Plant and Italy’s Fiat-Avio Company will also take part in the project. Brazil’s Infraero Company will also be involved in the construction of the launching complex’s general infrastructure.

NKAU hopes that the establishment of the launching complex at the Brazilian space center, given its favorable geographic position, will ensure maximum utilization of the Cyclone-4’s power resources and will allow this country to capture a wide spectrum of the world space market.