Preparations for the launch of 18 small spacecraft under Glavkosmos contracts are being completed at Vostochny
VOSTOCHNY, July 22. – The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle, with the Fregat upper stage, the Ionosfera-M No. 3 and No. 4 satellites as the main payload and 18 small spacecraft as the rideshare payload, was rolled out from the assembly and testing facility and installed at the launch pad of the Vostochny Ñosmodrome. The launch is scheduled for July 25 at 08:54 Moscow time.
17 commercial CubeSats, manufactured in Russia, will be launched from specialized launch containers for the benefit of Russian customers. One more small satellite will be launched for the benefit of a foreign customer.
Representatives of the Roscosmos and Glavkosmos (part of Roscosmos) management, as well as the representatives of customers, designers and manufacturers of the small spacecraft, observed the rollout of the launch vehicle. In the project of launching rideshare payloads Glavkosmos is the main integrator of the works and provides the launch service.
Now the specialists of the Russian space industry enterprises are carrying out the final technological operations. They are conducting pre-launch tests of systems and units of the Soyuz-2.1b; the interaction of onboard and ground equipment is also being checked.
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Glavkosmos, JSC is a subsidiary of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos. The main task of the company is to promote the achievements of the Russian rocket and space industry to world markets and to manage complex international projects. Throughout its history, the company has successfully fulfilled over 140 international contracts, including the launch of more than 300 spacecraft as a secondary payload.
Since May 2021, Glavkosmos has been the official operator of Roscosmos trademarks.
ROSCOSMOS is a State Corporation established in August 2015 to carry out a comprehensive reform of the Russian rocket and space industry. ROSCOSMOS ensures the implementation of the state policy in space activities and its normative and legal regulations, as well as places orders for the design, production and supply of space equipment and space infrastructure. ROSCOSMOS is also vested with authority to develop international cooperation in space and establish the appropriate environment for applying achievements in space domain for the social and economic development in Russia.