On October 18-19 XIII scientific readings «Dnepr Orbit» were held in Lesnoy vacation hotel of Yuzhnoye SDO, dedicated to the humanitarian aspects of space exploration. Sponsors of the event are Makarov National Aerospace Educational Center of Youth (NAECY), Yuzhnoye State Design Office, Zhitomir Space Exploration Museum dedicated to S. Korolev. Event was also supported by The Suzirya Ukrainian Space Society of Youth, State Space Agency of Ukraine and Oles Honchar Dnipro National University.

13th readings were dedicated to the 165th anniversary of Nikolay Kibalchich, Ukrainian inventor, who was the first to suggest the idea of rocket control with gimbaled engine chamber. As was noted by the organizers, contribution of Kibalchich into the development of rocket-and-space technology has not been properly covered, and he is well-known in the first place as the political activist, and not as one of the theorist and founders of the future space exploration.

General committee included:

Alexander Kashanov, YSDO Deputy General Designer, Scientific and Instructional Work;

Vladimir Komanov, Hero of Ukraine, First technical manager of Sea Launch program;

Anatoly Agarkov, YSDO Deputy General Designer, Flight Development Tests;

Vladimir Kuzmin, Head of Personnel and Anti-Corruption Activity Department under SSAU;

Vitaliy Patoka, PA Yuzhmash Deputy General Director for Personnel, Head of Human Resources;

Victor Khutorny, General Director of NAECY from 1996 till 2016;

Alexei Kulik, Acting General Director of NAECY.

Applications for participation in the scientific readings were received from the specialists and research workers, young scientists and students from enterprises, organizations, universities of Dnepr, Zaporozhye, Ivano-Frankovsk, Kiev, Zhitomir, Kharkov, Poltava, Chernovtsy and other cities of Ukraine. 65 speakers were registered; other participants were also registered as observers.

On the second day of the reading the following scientific topics were discussed at the sessions:

  • History of Aviation and Rocket-and Space Technology;
  • Aerospace Education of the Youth and Institutional Science. Advanced Innovative Projects;
  • Ecology and Space;
  • Philosophy and Space;
  • Legal, Economic and Humanitarian Aspects of Space Exploration;
  • Youth and Space.

Round-table discussion was also held on topic «Victor Grachev – Chief Testing Engineer of Yuzhnoye SDO rockets», dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the first head of testing and operations complex of the YSDO – close associate of YSDO Chief Designers M.K. Yangel and V.F. Utkin, prominent manager of the testing campaigns held at the ranges of Kapustin Yar, Baikonur, Plesetsk of all missile systems (four generations and first five generations of YSDO-developed space launch systems). Victor Grachev virtually organized the team of test engineers, whom he was in charge of for more than 30 years – since 1959 till 1991.

Program of “Dnepr Orbit” was fully covered for the two days of activities.