The State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU) has offered to build a cosmodrome outside the Curtin Air Base in Australia, according to the West Australian edition. According to it, the bid, first proposed to the State and Federal governments in 2016. “Ukraine has the technical expertise, supply chain and a long history in the global space race to back its offer,” Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Mykola Kulinich, told The West Australian.
The SSAU says it needs 5000 sq km to 7000 sq km of land on a commercial lease, preferably around the Curtin air base near Derby, to establish a spaceport.
It wants State and Federal government support to investigate land availability and tenure, environmental approvals, native title issues and other basic building blocks of the project.
According to the article, “construction of launch pads, hangars and support facilities could be funded through private investment, as well as contributions from Australia’s neighbours and allies.” “An initial study could be finished in a relatively short time frame, and for less than $500,000. A feasibility study to determine how much it would cost could be done within two years,” the on-line newspaper said.
