10 April, 2019 marks 65 years since the establishment of Yuzhnoye State Design Office.

Yuzhnoye SDO is specialized in the development of space rocket hardware and is one of the distinguished  leaders of space rocket science and technology in Ukraine and in the world.

The company conducts research in the field of space rocket technology being a system integrator that owns advanced highly-competitive innovation technologies of the world level. The company’s potential and the cooperation formed on its basis became one of the key factors of ensuring the status of space power for Ukraine and the possibility to enter the club of the nations that have the skills of creating a wide nomenclature of modern competitive space hardware.

In recent times, Yuzhnoye SDO developed more than twenty space launch systems. These works were performed jointly with main manufacturer –Yuzhmash,   in close collaboration with many institutes and companies of the cooperation.

All the time, the intensive work has been being conducted in two directions  – defense and space, supplementing each other. Yuzhnoye SDO successes in creation of advanced space rocket hardware are lot of explained by the existing system coordination and close connection of science, designing and production and availability of highly professional, creative personnel motivated for final result.  In the hardware under development, the specialists build in effective, often pioneering scientific-technical solutions, owing to which Yuzhnoye SDO developments in the field of missiles, launch vehicles, and spacecraft were often ahead of time and the main thing, the basis for further improvement of rockets and spacecraft performance by their subsequent modernization is built in them. Up to date, the company has more than 8000 inventions (including  ̴ 350 patents of Ukraine) , out of which  ̴ 3000 were introduced into practice.

During many years, Yuzhnoye SDO demonstrates stable high results. So, from 2011 to 2018, the volume of performed works increased five times, the amount of financial transfers to the associate contractors increased six and a half times. The average monthly earnest also grows, as well as the sum of money transferred to the state budget and to the governmental special-purpose funds.

At present, the number of company’s employees is about 5200 persons. The average age is 46.5 years. The number of employees at the age under 35 years is 35%.

Yuzhnoye SDO is at the forefront on the international space services market, participates in the implementation of big international space projects like Sea Launch, Land Launch, Dnepr, Cyclone-4 (with Canada), Vega (with the European Space Agency), Antares (with the USA). Besides, Yuzhnoye SDO actively develops  cooperation on prospective space projects with the USA, Canada, the countries of Europe, Asia, Far East et al.

Owing to the vigorous activity on the international space services market, Yuzhnoye SDO has the possibility to dynamically develop, to renew the existing test base and to create pilot production, to master newest technologies, to fund the other companies of space industry in the frameworks of common projects.  In recent times, Yuzhnoye SDO gained a reputation of the reliable organization that  performed a great number of international contracts in the interests of foreign partners.

The pride of Yuzhnoye SDO became the legendary launch vehicle Zenit based on which an ambitious world-level Sea Launch project was implemented and in due course – also Land Launch at Baikonur launch base.

The enforced termination of launching activity by the Sea Launch company had negative impact on further fate of Zenit LV, but beginning from 2014, the situation involving the Sea Launch project is being settling down. Currently, Yuzhnoye SDO actively cooperates with the new owner of the Sea Launch complex –  S7STS  – to renew launching activity.

The participation of Yuzhnoye SDO in implementation of Antares (TAURUS-II) space launch system is the new highest level of international space cooperation. The created launch vehicle is used to deliver cargos to the International Space Station (after the termination of operation in the USA of reusable space vehicles of Space Shuttle type) and it is planned to use it in future to launch spacecraft of commercial and governmental customers.  This is the unprecedented project in the history of Ukraine-USA space cooperation, as for the first time, the Ukrainian space rocket companies  directly participate in the development and manufacturing of an American launch vehicle.

The Antares LV Stage I Core Structure was developed by Yuzhnoye SDO, manufactured by Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant in cooperation with Ukrainian companies. Nine successful launches of Antares LV to the ISS have been already made.

The creation of Antares LV Stage I Core Structure was rewarded with the Prize of  the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 2013.

The works to implement a wide–scale international project Cyclone-4 are in active phase. The full cycle of development and manufacturing of this advanced space launch system is ensured completely by the cooperation of Ukrainian companies. The main advantage of the project is maximal use of the scientific- technical, design, and technological  know how of Yuzhnoye SDO. The basis of Cyclne-4 project which is being implemented in cooperation with a Canadian company Maritime Launch Services Ltd are the technical and design solutions that allow bringing the Cyclone-4M LV to the launch services market maximally quickly, with high reliability and quality level and at competitive price. According to the general assessments, this projects has all opportunities for successful realization. The beginning of construction works on the launch site near the town of Canso (Nova Scotia, Canada) is scheduled for late 2019. The implementation of Cyclone-4M project will ensure workload of Yuzhmash and preservation of the possibility of launch vehicles manufacturing in Ukraine.

Another promising project is creation of a space launch system based on light-class Cyclone-1M launch vehicle. This rocket is being created to satisfy prospective demand for launching into low orbits  single spacecraft and SC to form low-orbital constellations and to replenish them.

The basis of the development is:

• rational combination of new technologies with highly-reliable series-produced assemblies and units;
• use of composite materials for the main case elements of the stages, including the tanks for cryogenic propellant components;
• use of the orbital stage with the propulsion system of new development on environmentally friendly propellant components.

For Cyclone-1M LV, various possible launch site deployment areas are considered, including launches planned from the territory of Ukraine.

The company is not only focused on the existing projects, but intensively conducts prospective scientific-technical developments that must ensure stable future of the company, full realization of its scientific-technical potential and finally,  guarantee creation of modern space hardware based on advanced technical solutions.

Among such projects – a prospective family of environmentally friendly Mayak launch vehicles (based on the best design solutions proven on the earlier developed Yuzhnoye SDO systems which allow considerably reducing the cost of development), spacecrafts of different purpose, liquid and solid rocket motors of different purpose et al.

One of the most important directions of Yuzhnoye SDO activity is the development of liquid and solid rocket motors with full hardware manufacturing cycle in Ukraine. Currently, the company is completing testing of Cyclone-4M LV second stage engine, working on creation of a whole series of main engines and upper stage engines that can be used in national and international projects. The intensive development of the line of liquid rocket engines with thrust from 40 kg to 1000 ton continues.

The recognition of Yuzhnoye SDO’s  and Yuzhmash’s achievements in this field is  the creation of the fourth stage propulsion system for the European Vega launch vehicle. Since February 2012, twelve successful launches of this rocket were made  from Kourou launch site in French Guiana.

The members of the team of developers of Vega LV fourth stage propulsion system  were given the titles of the Laureates of State Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology.

The modern competitive rocket engines created in Ukraine are of significant  importance both for completing rocket systems and as independent products being in demand on the world market and having great export potential.

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In the frameworks of the National Space Program and on own initiative, Yuzhnoye SDO creates high-resolution Earth remote sensing spacecrafts, satellite optic-electronic  high-resolution observation system, Space Patrol low-orbital system, geostationary communication satellite buses, and multi-purpose transport space module.

In Yuzhnoye SDO territory, the work has been commenced to build the ground control and data reception station and SC flight control center.

Yuzhnoye SDO pays much attention to the search for solution of global problems of planetary scale for humanity. The efforts of the specialists are directed at solution of such world problems as removal of radioactive waste into space, anti-asteroid protection of the Earth, operational management of crisis and emergency situations caused by technogenic and natural disasters, removal of space debris from the near-Erath orbits et al. The most promising among these directions is the participation in activity of international organization Moon Village Association, the task of which is to unite the efforts of participants in order to create an international base on the Moon. As of today, Yuzhnoye SDO presents the projects: Space Transport System and Lunar Industrial-and-Research Base.

Basing on the long-standing experience of creating the special weapon types, Yuzhnoye SDO actively works on strengthening the defense potential of Ukraine. On Yuzhnoye SDO initiative, the work has been placed on a wide footing to update the existing and create new models of weapon, including the first national operational-tactical missile system. The ground testing of its components and the running tests of self-propelled launcher continue.

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Creation and development of Yuzhnoye SDO pilot production facility and test base is the priority task and new direction of the company’s activity aimed at increasing the technological level of products manufacturing. The perspective plan of equipping the pilot production facility being created at Yuzhnoye SDO is drawn up based on the necessity of manufacturing the structural elements of space rocket hardware corresponding to the product strategy of the company, with consideration for the newest trends of development of machine-building and metals and composite materials processing based on the most optimal innovative technical solutions.

The jobs, job sites, and specialized workshops were created for manufacturing the case parts of liquid and solid rocket motors, tank structures and launch vehicle bottoms and other parts and items of irregular shape.

The creation of modern base for manufacturing the parts and units of polymer composite materials is near completion. The selective laser melting installations for manufacturing the metal parts of irregular shape and the parts of 3D carbon plastic were put into service.

Mounting of the five-coordinate processing center for manufacturing the large-size parts of polymer composite materials was completed. The spacecraft assembly and electric test workshop that meets the most up-to-date world standards was put into operation.

The multi-functional center for full-scale tests of the control system elements, integrated navigation systems, and missile seekers was put into service. Here, comprehensive adjusting of the control system instruments functioning with rockets’ controls in flight simulation mode will be conducted.

The first in Ukraine impulse wind tunnel of short-term action using which it will be possible to perform wind-tunnel testing of the articles in the range of not only supersonic but also hypersonic Mach numbers was put into operation.

The software-and-hardware complex with high-end computer and engineering analysis system was put into service. In actual fact, this is a new computing center –  Yuzhnoye SC with the first supercomputer in Ukraine. The unique computer system was specially created to solve engineering and scientific problems by method of computational mathematics. The peculiarities of the supercomputer are the facts that it ensures solution of a huge number of problems during short time, provides high accuracy of results and the possibility of conducting a full set of calculations within maximally short time. The peak performance of the computing system is up to 300 teraflops (300 trillions operations per second).

To ensure up-to-date level of space  hardware developments, Yuzhnoye SDO develops system scientific activity attracting to this all available scientific-technical potential of Ukraine and expanding international scientific ties.

In the frameworks of the General Agreement on scientific-technical cooperation between Yuzhnoye SDO and the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, a whole set of  joint investigations into topical problems of space industry was organized.  The meetings of the work groups on main directions of investigations, the sessions of the Coordination Council on organization of joint works are regularly conducted, the Bulletin of the Coordination Council is issued.

The three-party General Agreement on scientific-technical space cooperation between the National Academies of Science of Belarus, Ukraine and Yuzhnoye SDO entered the phase of practical implementation. In Kiev and  Minsk, the meetings of joint work groups took place.

Concurrently, in the frameworks of the General Agreement between Yuzhnoye SDO and the leading universities of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, during six years, joint investigations under bilateral agreements are conducted.

Yuzhnoye SDO is an active member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), six times the IAA scientific conferences were held in Dnepr.

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Today, Yuzhnoye SDO as the main organization of the space industry of Ukraine is doing the best for absolute preservation of available scientific-technical and technological potential and for providing the conditions for its further development for the benefit of national defense and preservation of the status of space nation.

In order to ensure designing and manufacturing of the advanced models of space hardware competitive on the world market, first of all, highly-qualified, creative, and  motivated specialists are required. That is why the personnel remains the main value of the company during the entire history of Yuzhnoye SDO. For the employees to use their scientific-technical potential in full measure, to feel social protection, to have favorable conditions for work, recreation, personal and professional growth, Yuzhnoye SDO introduced and develops successfully a multi-type system of personnel motivation, training and scientific growth of the staff, youth and medical program, maximal social package, the system of corporate relations and sport-and-recreation program.

The company takes care of its employees, veterans, and  their family members also in their difficult life circumstances. The Charity for People fund established on the initiative of company’s directors that during several years helps the people timely and free-of-charge proved its effectiveness and  purposefulness.

Taking care of the personnel and system approach to their development, comprehensive support of social policy are important components of Yuzhnoye SDO activity. This is spelled out in the company’s Collective Agreement that covers practically all working and social problems of the employees. The entire social policy of Yuzhnoye SDO is directed at minimization of workers’ dependence on economic and domestic problems for effective and highly productive activity.

The effective and successful activity of the company’s collective was highly  appreciated by the leaders of Ukraine, space industry, and by local authorities: 232 employees are governmental award-winners, 819 employees are industry award –winners, and 465 employees are local award-winners.

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Having a great experience of managing the cooperation of high-technology enterprises and organizations determining real industrial potential of the country and its competitiveness, Yuzhnoye SDO is always open to cooperation in creation of science-intensive products, which are in demand on the world market.  Yuzhnoye SDO together with cooperation, despite existing problems and difficulties, is ready for performing a full scope of design works, tests, and  production of modern space hardware for the benefit of Ukraine.

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Yuzhnoye SDO approaches its 65 anniversary as the leading company of the space industry of Ukraine with stable and continuously rejuvenating collective

( ̴ 5200 employees) with real work load, one the highest salary in industry (more than 14000 UAH) and confident future prospect. The company has developed social structure and builds housing for the employees at own cost.

Yuzhnoye SDO made a weighty contribution to strengthening the credibility of Ukraine in the world as a space nation.