The Canadian company engaged in constructing and launching the satellite Lybid announced the need for additional funding.
According to “LІGA.net” referring to Viktor Zubkov, the Director of the Space Projects Department of the State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU), the launch of the Ukrainian satellite Lybid this year was postponed once again. The reason for that was the fact that the state-owned enterprise Ukrkosmos did not have enough funds to cover the recently incurred costs.
According to Mr. Zubko, the MDA announced the need for additional investment due to the situation in the Crimea, since the auxiliary flight-control station remained on the peninsula. The construction of the new one, in their opinion, requires USD 5 million. Or there is an option of renting a similar platform abroad. A part of the costs also implies the charge for storing the satellite Lybid on the premises of its manufacturer “Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems” located in Russia.
Just yesterday, the Mediasat reported citing the “Izvestia” edition that the Ukrainian communications satellite was prepared for launch, scheduled after December 11 of the present year. But Mr. Zubko denies it. He states they have recently received the mission of the company “MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates” (MDA) from Canada, which is engaged in constructing and putting into orbit the Ukrainian satellite. The contract with it worth USD 292 million was signed as far back as 6 years ago.
We shall recall that it is not the first extention of the date of launching the Ukrainian communications satellite.
As reported by Viktor Zubko, under the terms of the contract the Canadian contractor is liable for handing over that space vehicle, which should already operate in orbit, so the issue of pushing claims to MDA is actually under consideration.
