Payload unit of the rocket for the Meteor-M and 42 small spacecraft launch assembled at Vostochny
MOSCOW, June 20. - The assembly of the space payload unit for the Soyuz-2.1b rocket that will launch the Meteor-M satellite No. 2-3 and 42 small spacecraft into orbit as a secondary payload was completed at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The fairing encapsulated the payload unit; the necessary electrical tests were carried out at the cosmodrome’s assembly and testing facility.
The payload unit is prepared for transportation to the launch vehicle assembly and testing facility, where the final operation - the general integration of the launch vehicle - will take place before the rocket’s rollout to the launch complex.
Glavkosmos (part of Roscosmos) is the main integrator of the works and the launch service provider in the project of launching rideshare payloads. In total, 42 small spacecraft will be launched as a rideshare payload.
As part of the contractual relationship between Glavkosmos and the Foundation for the Promotion of Innovations, sixteen educational university CubeSats of the Space PI project will be launched under the 'Planet Attendant' program. Nine SmallSats will be launched within the Roscosmos UniverSat program for launching small spacecraft for educational and scientific purposes. Seventeen more small spacecraft will be launched as a rideshare payload for the benefit of Russian and foreign commercial customers.
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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 180 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.
The Foundation for the Promotion of Small Scientific and Technical Enterprises (Innovation Promotion Foundation) is a non-profit organization in the form of a federal state budgetary institution. The key goal of the Foundation's activities is financial support for young scientists and small enterprises that are engaged in scientific developments with a high potential for commercialization.