Czech satellite to watch skies over Ukraine

Mission objective

We will build and send into space a satellite that will serve the armed forces of Ukraine by keeping a close watch on Russian troop movements and gathering intelligence to defend its territory.

The satellite will be equipped with state-of-the-art imaging optics that will allow detailed monitoring of Ukrainian territory and borders. The satellite will also be capable of evaluating the imagery itself and then sending it directly to the Ukrainian leadership via a secure link.

We will involve Ukrainian industry, which has always been among the best in the world, in the construction and use of the satellite. Thanks to a unique political agreement between the Czech Republic and Ukraine, we will thus launch a new era of space cooperation and help the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

What will be purchased?

The budget will cover the development, production, testing and launch of the satellite into Earth's orbit. It is not cheap to send a satellite into space, but our experience has enabled us to reduce the cost several times compared to comparable missions. With relatively little money, Ukraine will get a lot of bang for the buck.

WHAT CAN SATELLITE DO?

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  Very high-resolution imagery
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  Regular imaging of specific areas of Ukraine
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  Automatic detection and identification of objects
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  Processing of images right on the satellite
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  Two-way encrypted communication

The Dragon mission is also unique in its scope, which is why both state and commercial institutions will participate in its funding, and a crowdfunding campaign will run in parallel, as part of the Weapons to Ukraine activity, which any citizen of the EU can join. For the mission to be realised and the satellite to fly into space in 2026, almost €6,000,000 needs to be raised. Although this seems like a large sum, similarly powerful satellites are usually ten times more expensive. Moreover, the satellite is only one component of the entire mission. It is primarily about data and also about getting the information to where it is needed as quickly as possible.

The Dragon of Brno

It is said that in ancient times a great evil dragon appeared in the city of Brno, which devoured lambs, goats, poultry, destroyed farms and threatened the inhabitants who feared it very much. The news of the dangerous beast quickly spread from Brno to the far region. Merchants began to avoid the city, people were afraid to go out, markets were empty, and the city began to suffer. The councillors put out a huge bounty on killing the dragon and hoped for a rescue. But no one dared to take on the dreaded beast. Until one day a young butcher's journeyman came forward and devised a clever trap for the monster. He sewed a sack of quicklime into the ox's hide and planted the bait in the grass. The dragon soon smelled the ox hide. He sought out his prey and devoured it all at once. After such a feast, he became thirsty and drank plenty of water. But alas! The lime sewn into the skin began to slake in his belly, until finally the dragon burst. The people rejoiced; the journeyman received a fat reward. The dragon was stuffed and hung in the passage of the town hall for all to see, where it still hangs today. With time, however, it turned out that the dragon was actually a crocodile, probably a gift or a curiosity brought back from travels.

This legend is part of Brno's cultural heritage, and the dragon (crocodile) is one of the most famous symbols of the city.