British space startup Spacebit delivering Ukrainian flag on rocket heading for moon

Spacebit's lunar rover, named Asagumo, was launched aboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket at 2:18 a.m. (EST).

The Ukrainian flag is on board as a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, at the initiative of Pavlo Tanasyuk, a British-Ukrainian space entrepreneur.

The metal flag of Ukraine also includes a map of the country.

"This metallic plate uses a new type of coating that has never been tested on the lunar surface before," the press service said.

“These paints are water-based and can withstand extreme temperature conditions for hundreds of years to come. A copy of the plate was presented to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the end of 2021.”

The launch of the Asagumo lunar rover has been postponed for a long time due to the coronavirus pandemic. The main goal of the mission is to deliver the world's smallest robotic lunar rover to the Moon to explore lava tubes on Earth's natural satellite for the first time in history.

Spacebit is a private British company founded by Pavlo Tanasyuk in 2014. It works on space data analysis tools and robotic space exploration concepts, including the use of artificial intelligence and advanced micro-robotics.