Volodymyr Levykin
{{orphan|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Volodymyr Levykin
| birth_date = February 1976
| birth_place = Ukraine
| education = Zaporizhzhia National Technical University
| occupation = Space and technology entrepreneur
| known_for = Founder and CEO of Skyrora
| awards = * Entrepreneur of the Year in Aerospace & Defense (The Stevie Awards)
- Satellite Personality of the Year (SSPI UK, 2024)
}}
Volodymyr Levykin (born February 1976) is a Ukrainian-born British space and technology entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Skyrora, a UK-based private space company.{{Cite news |last=Christian |first=Alex |title=On-Demand Rocket Launches Are Coming |url=https://www.wired.com/story/skyrora-rocket-taxi-service/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}
Early life and education
Volodymyr Levykin was born in February 1976. He graduated from Zaporizhzhia National Technical University in 1998 with a Master’s degree in Computer Science.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=У Британії компанія українця тестувала ракету - Korrespondent.net |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329131518/https://ua.korrespondent.net/tech/technews/4231716-u-brytanii-kompaniia-ukraintsia-testuvala-raketu |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=web.archive.org}}
Career
= Early career =
Levykin’s career began in the tech industry. He served as the Managing Director of a Scotland-based e-commerce company listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Volodymyr Levykin {{!}} Skyrora |url=https://skyrora.com/personal/who-we-are/volodymyr-levykin/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Expert |first=Space |date=2020-02-18 |title=People in Space: Volodymyr Levykin, founder of Skyrora |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2020/02/18/people-in-space-volodymyr-levykin-founder-of-skyrora/#:~:text=Prior%20to%20his%20move%20to,and%20moving%20to%20Silicon%20Valley. |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}} He also held leadership positions at companies such as Together Networks, Cupid Labs, EasyDate, and IDE Group.{{Cite web |title=Vladimir Levykin: Latest news and mentions - MarketScreener |url=https://www-marketscreener-com.translate.goog/insider/VLADIMIR-LEVYKIN-A10PKL/news/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=uk&_x_tr_hl=uk&_x_tr_pto=sc |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Experiences of Vladimir Levykin: Current and past positions - MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/insider/VLADIMIR-LEVYKIN-A10PKL/experience/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Field |first=Matthew |date=2022-12-19 |title=Former SpaceX executive quits British rocket start-up |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/12/18/former-spacex-executive-quits-british-rocket-start-up/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} He later ran an IT company in California before moving back to his previous home in Edinburgh, Scotland, to start a space industry startup.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-22 |title=Space Spotlight: Skyrora has one incredible secret to share {{!}} Scotland is Now |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622052355/https://www.scotland.org/features/space-spotlight-skyrora-has-one-incredible-secret-to-share |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=web.archive.org}}{{Cite web |title=Volodymyr Levykin |url=https://uk.sspi.org/cpages/volodymyr-levykin |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=sspi-uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=David |date=2024-06-25 |title=Skyrora, launching vertical commercial rockets into orbit from the UK |url=https://www.maddyness.com/uk/2024/06/25/skyrora-launching-vertical-commercial-rockets-into-orbit-from-the-uk/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Maddyness UK |language=en-UK}}{{Cite web |title=How Skyrora Aims To Be The First Private Company To Launch Into Space From The UK {{!}} Space Bandits |url=https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/skyrora |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=www.spacebandits.io}}
= Skyrora =
In 2017, Levykin founded Skyrora, shortly after the UK government introduced the Space Industry Bill to support the development of the national space sector.{{Cite web |last=Miles |first=Sheryl |title=The Skyrora’s the limit for the UK space company |url=https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/article-skyroras-limit-uk-space-company |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Startups Magazine |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Expert |first=Space |date=2020-02-18 |title=People in Space: Volodymyr Levykin, founder of Skyrora |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2020/02/18/people-in-space-volodymyr-levykin-founder-of-skyrora/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Hutton |first=Georgina |date=2025-07-01 |title=The Space Industry Bill 2017-2019 |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8197/ |language=en-GB}} His company specializes in the development of launch vehicles and ecologically sustainable rocket fuels.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-21 |title=The greatest space mission will be tackling climate change and protecting our planet |url=https://www.cityam.com/the-greatest-space-mission-will-be-tackling-climate-change-and-protecting-our-planet/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}} Its headquarters is in Edinburgh, with testing and manufacturing facilities spread across the UK.{{Cite news |last=Christian |first=Alex |title=On-Demand Rocket Launches Are Coming |url=https://www.wired.com/story/skyrora-rocket-taxi-service/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Poppy |date=2021-10-04 |title=Government plan will make UK a space superpower, says Scottish rocket boss |url=https://futurescot.com/government-plan-will-make-uk-a-space-superpower-says-scottish-rocket-boss/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=FutureScot |language=en-US}} In 2024 his company opened the UK’s largest rocket launch testing facility{{Cite web |last=Marklew |first=Philip |date=2022-03-15 |title=Skyrora opens UK’s largest rocket launch testing facility |url=https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/skyrora-opens-uks-largest-rocket-engine-testing-facility/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=AGN |language=en-en}} and launched InRange, a space-based launch vehicle telemetry relay system that uses geostationary satellites to enable continuous data transmission between the launch vehicle and the control centre during flight.{{Cite web |last=Group |first=Satellite Evolution |date=2024-11-01 |title=Skyrora, Viasat, and CGI achieve UK first with successful test of InRange |url=https://www.satelliteevolution.com/post/skyrora-viasat-and-cgi-achieve-uk-first-with-successful-test-of-inrange |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Satellite Evolution |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Enthusiast |first=Space |date=2024-10-31 |title=Skyrora and Viasat Mark UK First with InRange Telemetry Ground Test Revolutionizing UK Space Launch |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2024/10/31/skyrora-and-viasat-mark-uk-first-with-inrange-telemetry-ground-test/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}}
Levykin also founded Skyrora Ventures to invest in ideas and projects that support the company’s operations and development, focusing on developing integrated space services, including satellite technology, hardware, launch capabilities, and data collection.{{Cite web |last=Jewett |first=Rachel |date=2020-08-19 |title=Going Green: Why the Launch Industry Urgently Needs Environmental Regulations |url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/opinion/2020/08/19/going-green-why-the-rocket-launch-industry-urgently-needs-environmental-regulations/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Via Satellite |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Field |first=Matthew |date=2022-12-19 |title=Former SpaceX executive quits British rocket start-up |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/12/18/former-spacex-executive-quits-british-rocket-start-up/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
Space industry activities
Levykin led efforts to repatriate the Black Arrow rocket, the only British rocket to successfully launch a satellite into orbit, bringing it back to the UK after 48 years in Australia.{{Cite news |date=2019-01-21 |title=Black Arrow: UK space rocket returns home from Australia |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-46938858 |access-date=2025-01-13 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2021-10-23 |title=Major Tim Peake drops in to show support for Edinburgh rocket firm Skyrora’s space junk mission {{!}} Edinburgh News |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023194159/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tech/major-tim-peake-drops-in-to-show-support-for-edinburgh-rocket-firm-skyroras-space-junk-mission-3303111 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=web.archive.org}}{{Cite web |title=Black Arrow marks 50 years since one and only UK satellite launch |url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Black_Arrow_marks_50_years_since_one_and_only_UK_satellite_launch_999.html |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Space Daily}} He also initiated a challenge to locate and recover the British Prospero satellite.{{Cite news |date=2021-07-08 |title=Prospero: Quest to retrieve 50-year-old UK space debris |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57758410 |access-date=2025-01-13 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-09 |title=Major Tim Peake drops in to show support for Edinburgh rocket firm Skyrora’s space junk mission |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tech/major-tim-peake-shows-support-for-city-rocket-firms-space-junk-mission-3303111 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Edinburgh News |language=en}} Additionally, Skyrora developed the Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), designed for satellite servicing, refueling, and space debris removal.{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Emma |date=2021-05-31 |title=Skyrora CEO Volodymyr Levykin Offers a Solution to Combat Space Debris Problem |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2021/05/31/skyrora-ceo-volodymyr-levykin-offers-a-solution-to-combat-space-debris-problem/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}}
Volodymyr Levykin advocates for environmental regulations for the space industry and neutralising the carbon impact of rocket fuel.{{Cite web |last=Jewett |first=Rachel |date=2020-08-19 |title=Going Green: Why the Launch Industry Urgently Needs Environmental Regulations |url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/opinion/2020/08/19/going-green-why-the-rocket-launch-industry-urgently-needs-environmental-regulations/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Via Satellite |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hydzik |first=James |date=2022-11-08 |title=Skyrora's Levykin Talks Investment and Sustainable Launch at WebSummit 2022 |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2022/11/08/skyrora-chief-levykin-discusses-investment-and-sustainable-launch-at-websummit-2022/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}} He invested in the development of Ecosene, a rocket fuel produced from recycled plastic waste, such as polystyrene. Which generates up to 45% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional kerosene and can also be used in aviation.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-21 |title=The greatest space mission will be tackling climate change and protecting our planet |url=https://www.cityam.com/the-greatest-space-mission-will-be-tackling-climate-change-and-protecting-our-planet/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2021-10-23 |title=The Ian King Business podcast: BoE and Climate, Fintech, Rocket Fuel {{!}} Business News {{!}} Sky News |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023164939/https://news.sky.com/story/the-ian-king-business-podcast-boe-and-climate-fintech-rocket-fuel-12283806 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=web.archive.org}}{{Cite web |last=Hydzik |first=James |date=2022-11-08 |title=Skyrora's Levykin Talks Investment and Sustainable Launch at WebSummit 2022 |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2022/11/08/skyrora-chief-levykin-discusses-investment-and-sustainable-launch-at-websummit-2022/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}} Skyrora received environmental recognition from Iceland in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Editor |first=Terry Murden |date=2020-09-07 |title=Rocket firm Skyrora's green credentials recognised |url=https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2020/09/rocket-firm-skyroras-green-credentials-recognised/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Daily Business |language=en-GB}}
Levykin has been named among the UK's top spacetech leaders in the SpaceTech Report 2021 by the UK-based Deep Knowledge Analytics agency.{{Cite web |title=SpaceTech Leaders: United Kingdom |url=https://mindmaps.dka.global/spacetech-leaders-united-kingdom |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Aging Analytics Agency |language=en}} For his sustainability-directed activities, he was recognised as Entrepreneur of the Year in Aerospace & Defense by The Stevie Awards.{{Cite web |title=Search All Past Stevie® Winners and Finalists |url=https://stevieawards.com/search-past-winners-and-finalists?site_type=International+Business+Awards%C2%AE&year=2020&company_name=&award=Gold+Stevie%C2%AE+Award&nomination_title=&country=&category_group=&state=&category=Entrepreneur&city=&submitted_by=&industry=&items_per_page=10 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Stevie Awards |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Emma |date=2021-06-18 |title=Skyrora CEO Volodymyr Levykin is Announced as Finalist in EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 Awards |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2021/06/18/skyrora-ceo-volodymyr-levykin-is-announced-as-finalist-in-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2021-awards/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Orbital Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Skyrora and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/58628/skyrora-and-the-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-awards |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=edm.parliament.uk |language=en}}
Levykin was named “Satellite Personality of the Year” by the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) UK in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Satellite Personality of the Year Award |url=https://uk.sspi.org/cpages/satellite-personality-of-the-year-award |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=sspi-uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=SpaceRef |date=2021-11-23 |title=“Satellite Personality of the Year” award goes to Skyrora CEO, Volodymyr Levykin |url=https://spacenews.com/aeuroesatellite-personality-of-the-yearaeur-award-goes-to-skyrora-ceo-volodymyr-levykin/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Evolution |first=Satellite |date=2021-11-23 |title=SSPI “Satellite Personality of the Year” award goes to Skyrora CEO, Volodymyr Levykin |url=https://www.satelliteevolution.com/post/sspi-satellite-personality-of-the-year-award-goes-to-skyrora-ceo-volodymyr-levykin |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Satellite Evolution |language=en}}
Since 2017, Levykin has supported STEM education initiatives, allocating over £500,000 to programs encouraging young people in the UK to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.