Dmytro Khmara works as a programmer in EPAM and dreams together with his friend Oleksandr Lozynsky to develop a platform for launching rockets from air. Inventors are convinced that the launching of small satellites can be made 10 times cheaper than it costs now. Also launches can become more affordable, since air launches don’t require launch sites on land. Dmytro calls his team “Space cossacks”, they work on the project in their spare time and at their own expense. To better fit their needs for air launches, “Space cossacks” re-engineered the copter changing its classic form. Now the team is developing engine that will use methane gas instead of kerosene.

American writer Ralph Emerson once said: “Invention breeds invention.” The validity of this formula has been confirmed thousands of times. As soon as bright minds gather together, they start to co-create. And that’s what happened at Dnipro Space Valley Hackathon in early October, that took place at National Aerospace Educational Center of Ukrainian Youth.

Victor Serbin is founder and CEO of SETS (Space Electric Thruster Systems). His company develops electric rocket engines (EREs) for positioning  satellites in orbit and moving satellites from a low reference to a geostationary orbit. SETS is a part of Noosphere association. SETS has its own laboratory in Dnipro to conduct research and development. “Space Ukraine” talked to Victor about his company and his vision on how young scientists and engineers can gain experience and establish a space start-up.

Investor and entrepreneur Maxim Tkachenko is actively developing Ukrainian space industry, while his team is working on Ukrainian version of EmDrive engine. In his native Dnipro city Maxim creates a cluster of space industry enterprises to help them sell products on global markets. Maxim believes that space is one of the greatest opportunities in the history of humankind.

Academician Yaroslav Yatskiv is 76 years old. He dedicated his entire life to space and astronomy. Now he is considered to be one of the most acclaimed Ukrainian scholars. We talk in his office at the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Yatskiv starts with telling a story about his travel to India.

Meet Mikhail Ryabokon – Head of innovation at Noosphere, COO at Noosphere Ventures, co-founder of Noosphere Engineering School. Mikhail believes that breakthrough technologies will be offered by young people and dreams to open University that will train Ukrainian students in accordance with world trends.

“Street Astronomy” conducts sidewalk observations in Rivne and Shepetivka. Community members bring their telescopes to the streets and offer people to look at space objects for free. Today “Space Ukraine” talks to “Street Astronomy” co-founder Vadym Muliavka.