GK Launch Services
Акционерное общество «Главкосмос Пусковые Услуги» | |
| Abbreviation | Главкосмос Пусковые Услуги GK Launch Services |
|---|---|
| Formation | 25 April 2017 |
| Headquarters | 26/1 Prospekt Mira Ave., Moscow |
Administrator | Alexander Serkin |
| Baikonur Cosmodrome]] Vostochny Cosmodrome Plesetsk | |
| Website | http://gklaunch.ru |
GK Launch Services — Founded in 2017, Joint Stock Company “GK Launch Services” (GK) is an operator of Soyuz-2 commercial launches from the Russian spaceports (Vostochny, Plesetsk) and the Republic of Kazakhstan (Baikonur)..[1]
Company History[edit]
The need to establish the company was driven by the following reasons: the exclusive rights of the European “Starsem” for Soyuz-2 launches expired in 2016; at about the same time, the large Dnepr and Rockot programs were wound up. To keep up with growing international demand for satellite launches and to increase the workload of the Russian space industry and launch sites, Roscosmos State Space Corporation took a decision to establish a Russian commercial operator of Soyuz-2 launches, GK Launch Services.
The company was founded by Joint Stock Company GLAVKOSMOS (75% of the stock) and Limited Liability Company INTERNATIONAL SPACE COMPANY KOSMOTRAS (KOSMOTRAS) (25% of the stock) on April 25, 2017.
Technology[edit]
Soyuz-2.1a Launch Vehicle. It is a launch vehicle designed for orbital insertion of various purpose satellites. Soyuz-2.1a features high injection accuracy and uplift capability. Such performance is achieved by the advanced control system and enhanced engines of the first and the second stages.
Soyuz-2.1b Launch Vehicle. As compared to Soyuz-2.1a, the upgraded Soyuz-2.1b version uses a new engine on the third stage, which has improved performance providing higher uplift capacity.
Fregat Upper Stage. This multi-purpose upper stage is designed and produced by NPO Lavochkin (Lavochkin Research and Production Association). It provides highly accurate insertion of spacecraft into target orbits. Multiple restart capability of its main thruster (up to 7 ignitions) enables optimal delivery of payloads to several orbits within one mission.
The unique feature of the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle equipped with Fregat upper stage is that it is capable of placing satellites into almost any type of orbits.
Soyuz-2.1a performance from Baikonur
| Payload Mass | Orbit |
|---|---|
| 4 200 kg | SSO |
Soyuz-2.1b performance from Baikonur
| Payload Mass | Orbit |
|---|---|
| 4 800 kg | на SSO |
| 880 kg | на GSO |
| 1 900 kg | на GTO |
== Spaceports ==, ) For Soyuz-2 commercial missions of Soyuz-2 GK Launch Services engages the launch pads at the three spaceports:
- Vostochny (Amur Region, Russia). It is a new Russian Cosmodrome with the total area of about 700 sq.km. The rocket blasts off from a dedicated Soyuz-2 Launch Complex.
- Baikonur (Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan). It is the largest spaceport in the world that leads in the number of rocket launches ever carried out. Its total area amounts to 6,717 sq.km. The Cosmodrome territory is leased by Russia till 2050. Launches of Soyuz-FG, Soyuz-2.1a and Soyuz-2.1b are executed from Site 31.
- Plesetsk (Arkhangelsk Region, Russia). The total area of the range is 1,762 sq.km. Soyuz-2 lifts off from pad 3 and pad 4 of Site 43.
Partners[edit]
The key partners of GK Launch Services for commercial missions are as follows:
- RKTs Progress (Progress Rocket and Space Center): manufacture of Soyuz-2 rockets;
- NPO Lavochkin (Lavochkin Research and Production Association): manufacture of Fregat Upper Stage.
- TsENKI (Center for Operation of Space Ground-Based Infrastructure): control and operation of Cosmodrome infrastructure, LV pre-launch processing and launch, general coordination of launch campaigns.
Launch Price[edit]
Launch price per 1kg of piggyback payload: $20,000 to $30,000.
Key Persons[edit]
- Alexander Serkin, CEO
References[edit]
This article "GK Launch Services" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:GK Launch Services. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "Пусковой оператор — это специфический вид деятельности". Коммерсантъ. 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017.
