On February 9, 2023, readers met Eduard Ivanovych Kuznietsov, chairman of the Public Council under the State Space Agency of Ukraine, first vice-president of the Aerospace Society of Ukraine, author of the book "Thirty Years in Orbit. On occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the State Space Agency of Ukraine" in the Scientific and Technical Library of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. "KP" has already told about this popular scientific publication, which depicts the history of the space industry development in Ukraine since 1992 (see #3-4 of January 26, 2023). The author presented it to the H.I. Denysenko Scientific and Technical Library in both paper (http://bit.ly/3Rtf2h4 ) and electronic versions (available online on the library's local network https://bit.ly/3J1SbW0).
Eduard Ivanovych stood at the origins of the space industry formation in independent Ukraine. From 1995 to 2010, he held the position of Deputy General Director of the State Space Agency and was responsible for the implementation of many tasks. Eduard Ivanovych shared with the listeners a number of interesting facts about the Ukrainian space industry. In particular, regarding the development of the Cyclone-4M carrier rocket, which would use safe and ecological fuel; the work of the domestic military and space force (by the way, the first of its kind) and the huge potential of the industry, which was able to provide significant revenues to the state budget at minimal costs.
Eduard Ivanovych focused on one of his most emotional tasks in detail: training of the first cosmonaut of independent Ukraine. The pilot Leonid Kadeniuk was chosen after a difficult and meticulous selection. His training for the flight lasted over a year in Ukraine and the USA, and the flight itself took place from November 19 to December 5, 1997. "To be involved in this project was a reward for me," concludes Eduard Ivanovych.
At the end of the meeting, its participants took a joint photo with Eduard Ivanovych Kuznietsov in front of the flag of Ukraine (see photo) - one of those that visited space together with the first and so far the only cosmonaut of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kadeniuk.
]