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Ukraine can carry out many joint projects with Turkey in the field of space as in the defense industry, the head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine said.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Volodymyr Taftay evaluated Ukraine’s space program and the possibilities of cooperation between Ankara and Kiev in the field of space.
Kiev is quite open to cooperation, and together with Ankara they could reach success in space.
He also said they would like to visit the Turkish Space Agency in the second half of this year and discuss opportunities for cooperation.
“I strongly believe that cooperation is much stronger than being alone in any project. Especially with long-term partners like Turkey.
“Turkey has a very advanced industry, so I am completely sure we can engage in joint projects,” he added.
Noting that Turkey is a priority partner for Ukraine, Taftay said he believes that with the consolidation of cooperation, a space rocket or satellite co-produced by Ukraine and Turkey can be sent into space.
On the project of sending Turkish astronauts into space in line with Turkey’s National Space Program, he said that sending astronauts into space is a kind of test and self-realization because the space industry has to go through many new procedures to be able to send astronauts.
“I think it’s a very great, emotional project for the Turkish people to have their own astronauts flying to space,” he added.
Taftay said the Ukrainian Space Agency’s first priority is to launch the Sich 2-1 satellite together with the SpaceX company at the end of 2021 and the second priority is to implement a new space program.
He said Ukraine’s 5th National Space Program ended in 2017, noting that the new program he prepared after taking office in March this year is in the process of being approved.
These reports are in line with the recent reality that Ukraine is emerging as a key “blood donor” to the Turkish war industry, assuring a mass supply of its military technology to as many spheres as Ankara needs.
Now, space technology is also becoming part of that trend.
Where Ukraine lags, Turkey comes to contribute, and where Turkey lags, Ukraine comes to “fill the gaps” with the technology it has, as it is a country that, during the period of the Soviet Union, had a very developed technology and scientific potential. Its industrial facilities in such areas as aircraft production, as well as anti-tank ammunition, battle tanks or the space exploration, were maintained and even developed after the dissolution of the USSR.
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