The fate of the first Ukrainian telecommunications satellite "Lybid" ("Swan") a big question. While he is in Russia and the leadership of the State Space Agency of Ukraine is wondering, how to be next.
According to the head of the space agency Vladimir Usov, court refused to return the money, spent on creating a satellite. meanwhile, the government of Ukraine took a loan from the Canadian Export Agency for the construction of the apparatus in the amount of 292 million dollars.
Usov also emphasized, that the satellite contract is invalid, and named three possible scenarios. The first and most optimal for Kiev - somewhere else to get 50-60 million dollars, to complete a rocket and launch a satellite from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. The second way is to find an investor, which will be ready to send the satellite into orbit on its own. Finally, the third way - selling the rights to use a satellite from the territory of Russia to another state or corporation, and the construction of the new satellite with the proceeds.
Money will not be returned to Kiev.
note, that the decision to create a satellite was adopted by the Ukrainian government yet 13 years ago, at 2007 year, and 2009 Kiev took a loan from a Canadian agency for its creation. But most of the money borrowed has disappeared., and the Lybid satellite with 2014 of the year, when relations between Kiev and Moscow deteriorated, is in Russia in a semi-ready state. only in 2019 Kiev completed the repayment of a loan to the Canadian Export Agency.
It turns out, that the whole story with the satellite is one sheer loss for Ukraine: and financial, and reputational. This is another example., as shortsighted Ukrainian nationalist politicians, breaking normal relations with Russia, hit the economy of their own state. Now Ukraine has no satellite, no money paid for him.
