В ході засідання Постійне представництво України при міжнародних організаціях у Відні представило позицію України стосовно вкладу нашої держави в розвиток міжнародного співробітництва в галузі освоєння космосу та поводження з космічним сміттям.

Виступи делегації України в рамках 55-ї сесії НТПК КВК ООН додаються.

 

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the 55^th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

29 January – 9 February, 2018
(agenda item 4 “General Exchange of Views”)

Madam Chairperson,

The delegation of Ukraine also wishes to join others in congratulating you on your election as a Chair, and to assure you of our full support and cooperation throughout this session and beyond.

We would also wish to thank the Office for Outer Space Affairs and its Director Ms. Di Pippo for their substantive preparations for this session as well as for intercessional work.

 

Madam Chairperson,

At the outset, I wish to express Ukraine’s Delegation deep appreciation for the efforts of the Chair and all Member States aimed at moving forward the activities of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.

Ukraine also supports excellent work that has been carried out by the Working Group on Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and its Chair. We look forward to continue with the achievements during this session to prepare the guidelines for endorsement by the UN General Assembly at its 73rd session.

Regarding the information exchange with other international organizations on the basis of existing mandates, Ukraine commends transparency measures taken by the Office for Outer Space when providing the needed data in response to the request of International Atomic Energy Agency in October 2017.

Specifically, the official confirmation by the COPUOS that no satellite or otherwise re-entries of objects containing ruthenium 106 radioisotope thermoelectric generators have taken place was included in the IAEA Report on this particular radiation incident.

We are confident that such cooperation provided a useful impact on the overall process of defining the origins of this event and contributed to the transparency of such investigation.

 

Madam Chairperson,

Let me inform Member States that in 2017 the State Space Agency of Ukraine marked its 25^th anniversary. Being established in 1992, the Agency became a central body of executive power that implements state policy concepts in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space.

The 25-year period of activities of the State Space Agency of Ukraine marked prominent progress in Ukraine’s exploration objectives: 148 launches of Ukrainian launch vehicles have been conducted and almost 300 spacecraft delivered into orbit for the benefit of 20 countries worldwide.

 

Madam Chairperson,

In addition to its 25^th anniversary, the activities of the State Space Agency of Ukraine in 2017 were focused on the following important issues:

1. Implementation of the 5th Space Program of Ukraine for 2013-2017.
2. Ukraine's compliance with its international obligations in the framework of national space activities and implementation of international space projects and programs.
3. Application of the results of space activities in various areas of the country's economy.
4. Expansion of geography of the space sector presence in the international space technology and services market.
5. Participation in the work of numerous international space organizations, forums and exhibitions.

Lion’s share of space activities of Ukraine in 2017 at the governmental level was aimed at the effective implementation of the National Space Program. Among other, special attention of the competent authorities of Ukraine was paid to the following issues:

1. Creation of the Sich-2-1 remote sensing spacecraft as part of the future remote sensing system of Ukraine. This system is designed to provide effective monitoring of emergencies, control of the agro-industrial complex, compliance with the rules of subsoil use, eco-monitoring, implementation of infrastructure projects, land and forest management etc.
2. Creation of the Microsat-M spacecraft for the scientific experiment Ionosat-Micro and a number of technological experiments. The purpose of Ionosat-Micro experiment is to study the dynamical processes in the ionosphere of the Earth with the help of space and ground measurements to search for the interconnection of ionospheric perturbations with processes in the Sun, in the magnetosphere, the atmosphere and the inner shells of the Earth.
3. Creation of modern ground space infrastructure that will provide management of the national spacecraft and data reception from national and foreign spacecraft.

 

Madam Chairperson,

As this year we celebrate 50^th anniversary of the first conference of the Outer Space Committee, Ukraine is convinced that today’s agenda dictates a need to build stronger partnerships and international cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space at all levels and among actors of the broader space community, in order to enhance the utility of space for the well-being of all peoples.

For its part, during 2017 Ukraine continued to focus on expanding and deepening international cooperation at the interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels.

One of the prominent examples of such cooperation is project “Antares”. Within its framework, Ukrainian enterprises develop the basic design of the first stage of the Antares launcher, developed by the US company Orbital ATK and commissioned by NASA to deliver the cargo to the International Space Station. One launch from the US spaceport Wallops has been performed in 2017.

Ukraine continues effective cooperation in the field of space activities with the European Union. Ukrainian enterprises design and develop the upper stage of the lightweight launcher within the “Vega” project, which is being implemented by the European Space Agency. During 2017, three launches of Vega from the Kourou space center have been performed.

The priority aim of Ukraine for 2018 is to extend cooperation with the European Union, the countries of North America and China.

Several very important steps towards this aim have already been made in 2017. In particular, the issue of space was included in the agenda of the High-level Dialogue between Ukraine and the EU on horizontal issues and individual sectors of industry that were held in March 2017 in Brussels.

Joint Ukrainian-Canadian project aimed at development of the launching facility in Canadian province of Nova Scotia was established in 2017.

The People's Republic of China remains an important partner of Ukraine in the space field. The practical and fruitful cooperation between two countries continues within the Ukrainian-Chinese Space Cooperation Program for the 2016-2020.

In order to expand the geography of the space sector presence in the international space technology and services market, Ukraine has concluded several important international agreements in 2017:

-     Memorandum of Understanding between the State Space Agency of Ukraine and Romanian Space Agency on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Peaceful Use of Outer Space;

-     Memorandum of Understanding between the State Space Agency of Ukraine and Mexican Space Agency of the United Mexican States on co-operation in the space sphere for peaceful purposes;

-     Memorandum of Understanding between the State Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes;

-     Memorandum of Understanding between the State Space Agency of Ukraine and the Space Agency of the UAE in the field of space exploration.

 

Madam Chairperson,

Ukraine will continue to closely engage with partners with the overall goal of addressing common challenges in the peaceful uses of outer space activities in order to extend the benefits of space for all humankind.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

 

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the 55^th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

29 January – 9 February, 2018
(agenda item 8 “Space Debris”)

Madam Chairperson,

Ukraine, along with other fellow space countries, developed and adopted the document "Limitation of the contamination of the near-Earth space in operation of space technology", which declares the basic rules of space activities in Ukraine.

Currently, the operation, modernization and design of space launch vehicles and spacecraft in Ukraine is carried out in accordance with the requirements of this document, which is mandatory for all national manufacturers and users of space technology. The main provisions of the document are placed in line with the international recommendations of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee.

Along with the preventive measures against creation of new space debris, the problem of the active removal of space debris has become crucial. In this context, specialists of technical and technological orientation are working around the world on developing methods for active removal of space debris, offering different types of methods.

Ukraine is also actively involved in this process. In particular, a number of scientific-technical and scientific-legal studies on this subject are conducted in Ukraine.

In the field of scientific and technical research:

State Design Office Yuzhnoye carries out a number of measures to improve the state of the near-Earth space. It has developed two systems for removal of space debris: active and passive. The first system is designed for efficient removal from low Earth orbits to dense layers of atmosphere of medium-sized objects of space debris (up to 100 kg / up to 5 m) using an interceptor spacecraft equipped with a set of modules for capturing and outputting objects of space debris. The passive system includes a device that is folded up on the body of the outgoing space object and, upon completion of its lifetime, is deployed by the aerodynamic system by means of boost or expansion elements themselves.

Also, a private company JSC “Kurs” conducts works on creation of a complex of means for rapprochement and capture Azimuth for such operations in space as convergence with uncooperative client spacecraft (or space debris), their capture with the further interorbital transportation. Conceptual project is being developed.

The Azimuth complex has a modular structure: a radar module, an optical module, a system of mechanical capture. The number and composition of the modules is determined by the specific task the complex is used for.

The complex of means of rapprochement and capture Azimuth is intended for the following tasks: measurement of parameters of mutual motion and the mutual position of two uncooperative objects; mechanical capture of a space object; fixation of a space object; unfastening with a space object. The complex can be used in interorbital spacecraft to perform the following functions: providing orbital service tasks, delivering goods to orbital stations, capturing and transporting space debris to disposal orbit.

In the field of scientific-legal study:

The technical implementation of any project for active removal of space debris also requires a thorough examination of its international and national legal framework.

International Center of Space Law at the Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine performed a study and outlined the most important legal issues to be resolved before implementation initiation of any active debris disposal project:

1. Transparency and confidence-building measures that are known today should be implemented to a maximum.
2. Establishing contacts directly or through the Secretary General of the United Nations between all the actors whose interests may be affected by implementation of the project and holding consultations with them.
3. Fulfillment of all national licensing and security procedures stipulated by the legislation of the participating states, which primarily include: licensing, export control and insurance.

 

Madam Chairperson,

It is my hope that this information regarding Ukraine’s experience in research on space debris, safety of space objects with nuclear power sources on board and issues related to space debris will prove useful in furthering our work in this context. I look forward to hearing other views on this topic.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.