Ukrainian aerospace sector revives

DNIPROPETROVSK– The Baikonur Cosmodrome recently launched a new modification of the carrier rocket Zenit-3 SL with an upper-stage rocket Fregat that is produced in cooperation with the Russian Lavochkin Scientific Production Association. “The results of the launch are very good; the accuracy of the spacecraft’s orbital injection is very high,” said the chief designer of the Pivdenne state design bureau Oleksandr Dehtiariov at a press conference. The meteorological satellite Electro-L — the first in the new series of launches — was lifted into geostationary orbit. According to Dehtiariov, Ukrainian rocket specialists managed to win a tender in Russia, getting five space craft launches out of six. Russian manufacturers of the famous carrier rocket Proton and Soyuz tried to compete with Zenit. For Dnipropetrovsk specialists winning the tender is an important event, since the orders they got will provide work for specialists of the state design bureau Pivdenne and the plant Pivdenmash, and related industries, for the next two years. Ukraine’s aerospace sector is reviving after a long pause caused by the world economic crisis. As it is known, because of financial problems the international corporation Sea Launch had to file for bankruptcy — all its launches were done with the help of Zenit rockets. The Russian side undertook to reorganize the project. Now the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia will possess not 25 percent but 85 percent of Sea Launch’s shares. “In October 2010,” says Dehtiariov, “this process finished. It was fixed by judicial decisions based on the laws of the American state Delaware where the corporation is registered. All contract schemes and documents have been revised. Preliminary work for new launches has been done.” At present there are five definite orders and, according to Dnipropetrovsk rocket specialists, Sea Launch will come to life again already this year. “The first two rockets are 50 and 70 percent ready,” said director general of Pivdenmash Viktor Kozyr. “The laying of two more rockets is ongoing. The first launch of Zenit will take place in the third quarter and clients want to make the second launch this year.” So far Pivdenmash’s Zenit does not have many competitors that are able to lift into orbit spacecrafts weighting over six tons. Moreover, the capabilities of these rockets expanded after the project Sea Launch was supplemented by the project Land Start.

Dnipropetrovsk rocket manufacturers also have big hopes for another international project — the launch of the rocket Cyclon-4 from the Brazilian launching site in Alcantara. “This project has a long start,” admits designer general of the state design bureau Pivdenne. “However, many formalities have been overcome already. Permits for building a launch complex were received. The cutting down of jungles has been continuing with the help of army detachments. As it is known, Brazil’s president invited our president to the first launch of Cyclon in 2012. Therefore we expect to fit in this term with the government’s assistance. Life is not easy and everything depends on finances.” Despite the difficulties, the state design bureau Pivdenne and the plant Pivdenmash plan a number of launches with the help of the conversion rocket Dnipro, including the Ukrainian satellite of remote probing of the earth’s surface Sich-2 and a group of microsatellites which can predict earthquakes. Design work on creating the new series of carrier rockets Mayak has been continuing, and they will be equipped not by Russian but Ukrainian engines made in Dnipropetrovsk. However, Dnipropetrovsk specialists are most proud of their participation in creating the American carrier rocket Taurus-2, which is supposed to replace space shuttles. The first products were already sent by sea from Odesa. “For stable work,” rocket specialists explain, “we need to produce about ten rockets every year. We need funds for equipment modernization and energy saving. But the state support, without which it is difficult for the aerospace field to survive, even in the best years covered not more than 10 percent of expenses, and it takes no less than two years for a rocket project to be repaid.” Nevertheless, Pivdenmash specialists stress, Ukraine is among the countries capable of creating rockets and space crafts and the qualification of its specialists amazes customers and partners.