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Ordinance Of The Supreme Soviet Of Ukraine,On Space Activity
Law of Ukraine of 15 November 1996 (VVRU, 1997, p. 2)

[UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION]

Section I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Use of terms and concepts

For the purposes of this Law the terms and concepts listed below shall have the following meanings:

"Space activity" shall mean scientific space research, the design and application of space technology and the use of outer space;

"Space facilities (space technology)" shall mean material objects produced by piecework which are designed, manufactured and operated both in outer space (space segment, space infrastructure) and on the Earth’s surface (ground segment, ground infrastructure) for the purpose of exploring and using outer space;

"Subjects of space activity" shall mean enterprises, institutions and organizations, whether domestic, international or foreign, which engage in space activity;

"Space technologies and services" shall mean the results of scientific development, methods, means and services required for the pursuit of space activity and for obtaining and making use of the results of such activity;

"Incident" shall mean an event related to space activity which has led to a threat to the life or health of persons or damage to or destruction of the property of citizens, enterprises, institutions or organizations, or damage to the environment;

"Emergency" shall mean an event related to space activity which has led to the death of persons or to serious bodily injury, or to destruction of the property of citizens, enterprises, authorities or organizations, or substantial damage to the environment;

"Rules of space activity" shall mean special rules, technical norms and standards which regulate space activity and its safety;

"Personnel of space facilities" shall mean the staff of enterprises, institutions or organizations which are involved in the manufacture, testing or operation of space facilities and the clean-up of incidents and emergencies, as well as specialists working for enterprises, institutions or special units of military units involved in performing such work;

"Compliance certificate" shall mean a document attesting to the fulfilment by a space facility of the operating requirements of space technology, as regulated by the relevant regulatory texts in force in Ukraine.

Article 2. Legislation on space activity in Ukraine

Relations in the area of space activity shall be regulated by this Law and by other legislative acts of Ukraine adopted in conformity therewith.

Article 3. Aims of space activity

Space activity shall be conducted with the following aims:

• Furthering the socio-economic development and scientific progress of Ukraine and promoting the welfare of its citizens;
• Contributing to the solution of the general problems facing humankind;
• Developing space science and engineering and space-related services and technologies apt to assist in bringing about the stable development of the national economy;
• Creating an extensive export potential in the space sector;
• Ensuring access to outer space and the conduct of scientific investigations of the Earth and outer space;
• Establishing and maintaining space systems to ensure modern State information coverage;
• Safeguarding the long-term interests of the State in relation to national security and defence capabilities;
• Fostering the development of education;
• Assisting in the monitoring of conformity with international security agreements to which Ukraine is a party.

Article 4. Principles of space activity

The space activity of Ukraine shall be conducted in accordance with the following principles:

• State regulation;
• Progressive development and systematic reform of State policy in relation to the exploration and use of outer space;
• Practical exploitation of the scientific and technical potential of Ukraine and of possibilities created by space activity in the interests of the national economy, scientific advancement and State security and for commercial purposes;
• Furtherance of international cooperation and the maintenance and development of existing relations in matters related to space with due regard for national interests.