Ukraine Joins European Space Program Copernicus

Ukraine and the European Union have signed an agreement on Ukraine’s participation in the Copernicus space program component.

The Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine reported on this.

The formal signing took place on April 9 in Brussels, Belgium, during the Association Council meeting.

Ukraine will also participate in the subcomponents of Space Weather Events and Near-Earth Objects within the Space Situational Awareness component of the EU Space Program.

This agreement outlines the terms and principles of Ukraine’s participation in specific components of the European Union’s Space Program in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/696.

As part of the cooperation, collaboration is expected in the following areas:

– The Copernicus component (Earth observation based on satellite and ground segments);
– The SWE subcomponent (study of space weather and its impact on Earth);
– The NEO subcomponent (tracking space bodies and objects that may pose a threat to Earth).

The Copernicus space program aims to achieve comprehensive, continuous, and high-quality Earth observation.

The aim is to use the vast amount of shared data from satellites, as well as ground, air, and maritime measurement systems, to obtain information about the environment, emergencies, and global security.

One of the advantages of Copernicus is that the data and information provided within the program are freely accessible to all users and the public.

Ukraine’s participation in the program is expected to foster the development of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the field of space activities and expand competencies in Earth observation and space object monitoring.

Participation in the program will assist in decision-making and monitoring in areas such as agriculture, civil protection, climate change, protection of energy grids and communications, as well as the environment, security and defense, and infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has recently established a Space Policy Directorate to bring together public and private companies and space scientists to interact with the Ukrainian Defense Forces.