Ukraine Joins Copernicus Space Program for Earth Observation
Ukraine has made a significant advancement by gaining nearly full access to the EU's Earth observation program known as Copernicus, which provides satellite data for monitoring environmental conditions, climate change, and emergency management. This was reported by "Ukrinform".
The agreement to participate in various components of the Copernicus program was signed by Ukraine with the EU in Brussels within the framework of the Ukraine-EU Association Council, granting Ukraine access to space data at a level comparable to EU member states, with some security components excluded.
This space agreement also allows Ukraine to associate with additional parts of the space program, including "Space Weather Events" (SWE), which enables monitoring and analyzing phenomena in the space environment that could affect satellites and energy systems. Another important program is "Near-Earth Objects" (NEO), which tracks asteroids and other objects that pose a threat to Earth.
Ukrainian representatives will have the right to become observers in the committees that make decisions regarding these programs, although they will not have voting rights. This collaboration will promote the development of space technologies in Ukraine, and the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, referred to the document as "the first step" towards Ukraine's integration into EU space programs.