{"id":391450,"date":"2026-04-14T11:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T11:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/391450\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T11:44:13","slug":"ukraine-may-have-found-a-way-to-launch-satellites-without-a-spaceport-united24-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/391450\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine May Have Found a\u00a0Way to\u00a0Launch Satellites Without a\u00a0Spaceport \u2014 UNITED24 Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ukraine\u2019s previously reported \u201cair launch\u201d tests are now being linked to\u00a0a\u00a0specific domestic project, offering new insight into how the country could develop its own satellite launch capability without relying on\u00a0traditional spaceports.<\/p>\n

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According to\u00a0Defense Express on\u00a0April 14, recent disclosures about an\u00a0unnamed Ukrainian air-launch system correspond to\u00a0the Orbit Boy project, a\u00a0private initiative founded<\/a> before the full-scale invasion by\u00a0former heads of\u00a0Ukraine\u2019s State Space Agency. The system is\u00a0designed to\u00a0deploy a\u00a0carrier rocket from an\u00a0aircraft, enabling launches without fixed ground infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Orbit Boy\u2019s concept centers on\u00a0a\u00a0multi-stage rocket capable of\u00a0delivering up\u00a0to\u00a0400\u00a0kilograms of\u00a0payload into orbit. The launch sequence begins with the release of\u00a0the rocket from a\u00a0transport aircraft at\u00a0altitude, after which the system separates and ignites its engine within seconds, continuing ascent independently.<\/p>\n

The outlet reports that the project has progressed through several development stages. A\u00a0solid-fuel upper-stage engine was tested in\u00a02021, followed by\u00a0the completion of\u00a0a\u00a0launch platform in\u00a02023. On\u00a0October 29, 2025, the company publicly confirmed a\u00a0key milestone\u2014the successful release of\u00a0an\u00a0engineering model of\u00a0the rocket from an\u00a0altitude of\u00a0approximately 5,000 meters.<\/p>\n

\"Ukraine<\/p>\n

Read more<\/p>\n

CategoryLatest news<\/a>Ukraine Quietly Tested Space-Launch Capabilities in\u00a0Middle of\u00a0War Twice<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Apr 13, 2026 10:45\n <\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Defense Express, the test was conducted using an\u00a0An-70 aircraft. As\u00a0only one such aircraft is\u00a0currently operational and belongs to\u00a0the Ukrainian Air Force, this suggests the use of\u00a0state resources and indicates alignment with broader national priorities.<\/p>\n

Technical data shared by\u00a0the outlet describes a\u00a0three-stage flight profile. After separation, the rocket accelerates through successive stages, reaching suborbital altitude before the final stage places the payload into orbit. The system is\u00a0designed to\u00a0achieve an\u00a0orbital altitude of\u00a0approximately 700\u00a0kilometers.<\/p>\n

\"Diagram<\/a>
\n Diagram showing Orbit Boy\u2019s air-launch concept, with a\u00a0carrier aircraft releasing a\u00a0multi-stage rocket that ignites mid-air and ascends to\u00a0orbit. (Source: Orbit Boy)<\/p>\n

Earlier statements by\u00a0Ukrainian lawmaker Fedir Venislavskyi indicated that an\u00a0air-launch system had already been tested in\u00a0flight, including missions reaching altitudes above 100\u00a0kilometers and 204\u00a0kilometers. While the project was not named at\u00a0the time, the timeline and technical characteristics align with Orbit Boy\u2019s development.<\/p>\n

Air-launch systems are typically associated with space access rather than conventional missile programs. Launching from an\u00a0altitude of\u00a0around 8\u00a0to\u00a09\u00a0kilometers reduces atmospheric drag and improves efficiency, while also removing the need for costly ground-based launch infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\"Engineering<\/a>
\n Engineering model of\u00a0the Orbit Boy carrier rocket released from an\u00a0An-70 aircraft during an\u00a0air-launch test. (Source: Orbit Boy)<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Defense Express, for countries without established spaceports, including Ukraine, such systems offer a\u00a0potential path to\u00a0sovereign satellite deployment. The Orbit Boy project, if\u00a0fully realized, would represent a\u00a0shift toward independent access to\u00a0orbit using domestically developed technology.<\/p>\n

Earlier, reports emerged that Ukraine\u2019s planned UASAT LEO satellite constellation will initially be\u00a0manufactured<\/a> in\u00a0Denmark by\u00a0the space technology company GomSpace, with production expected to\u00a0shift to\u00a0Ukraine in\u00a0later stages of\u00a0the program.<\/p>\n

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