Session
Technical Session II: Current Ways to Get to Orbit
Abstract
This paper summarises the experience gained by CST Russian and British staff while brokering and managing the launches of small satellites in the Former Soviet Union (FSU). The seven currently available small launchers are compared for availability, utility and price. Methods of achieving economical access to space such as piggyback or cluster launches are assessed and guide lines suggested for achieving the best results. CST experiences with all three basic launch solutions in the FSU and the lessons learned are described. Including contracts currently in hand, by the end of 2005 CST will have brokered and managed the launches of over 20 small satellites of 6 to 400 kg mass to a variety of orbits (including GEO) on at least 5 different FSU launchers. At the moment, none of the satellites will be from the USA. The paper is intended to give some light on some of the reasons why and suggest possibilities for improving the situation. The recent record of FSU small launchers will be presented and this and important related issues will be discussed. The likely evolution of the FSU launcher situation over the next 10 years will be reviewed and 2 or 3 promising developments will be discussed in detail.
Presentation Slides
Launching Small Satellites in the Former Soviet Union
This paper summarises the experience gained by CST Russian and British staff while brokering and managing the launches of small satellites in the Former Soviet Union (FSU). The seven currently available small launchers are compared for availability, utility and price. Methods of achieving economical access to space such as piggyback or cluster launches are assessed and guide lines suggested for achieving the best results. CST experiences with all three basic launch solutions in the FSU and the lessons learned are described. Including contracts currently in hand, by the end of 2005 CST will have brokered and managed the launches of over 20 small satellites of 6 to 400 kg mass to a variety of orbits (including GEO) on at least 5 different FSU launchers. At the moment, none of the satellites will be from the USA. The paper is intended to give some light on some of the reasons why and suggest possibilities for improving the situation. The recent record of FSU small launchers will be presented and this and important related issues will be discussed. The likely evolution of the FSU launcher situation over the next 10 years will be reviewed and 2 or 3 promising developments will be discussed in detail.
