National Space Policy of Ukraine: Changing Challenges and Threats

Abstract

The authors examine the fundamentals of the national space policy of Ukraine. The paper is devoted to studying the potential of the space industry in Ukraine and the current challenges and threats associated with space activities. The methods of comparative analysis, deduction, and modelling were used. The novelty of the research lies in the approval of the national space policy as a fundamental and priority document, on the basis of which the national space law, space activities and industry are developed. The key conclusion of the study is the need to build the national space policy based on the Ukrainian national idea. The authors formulated three basic principles of Ukraine’s space policy based on the Ukrainian national idea in the following formulation, “Ukraine – Keeper, the Ukrainians – the guardians of peace and a thousand years culture in the western part of the Eurasian continent.” These are (1) safety, stability, security, and long-term sustainability of space activities; (2) creation of an innovative and competitive commercial space sector, which should become a source of progress and sustainable development of Ukraine; (3) the use of space for national security activities, including those for exercising of the inherent right of self-defense.

Keywords

• space policy
• national space policy of ukraine
• space force
• ukrainian space activities
• space industry