April 24, 2019

WIN A LAUNCH OF 1U CUBESAT ON THE FIRST COMMERCIAL MISSION OF GK LAUNCH SERVICES!














Marrakesh, Morocco

The International Astronautical Federation in cooperation withGK Launch Services are pleased to announce an exclusive competition for a Free Launch of 1U CubeSat on the First Commercial Mission of GK Launch Services.

We cordially invite all IAF member organizations to participate in the competition and profit from this unique opportunity to win a launch operated by GK Launch Services, planned for the second quarter of 2020. Please note that this competition aims with priority at reaching out to Space University teams from emerging countries.

The launcher will be Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat. The new generation of Soyuz launchers features high reliability, multi-functionality, and eco-friendliness – a rocket of great world renown – launched from Baikonur and known for its long successful flight heritage and orbit injection accuracy. “We are happy to provide a launch opportunity to a 1U CubeSat on our first commercial mission. It is important to GK to support scientific projects, especially those made by students.” said GK Launch Services CEO Alexander Serkin.






























You may find here for your information the mechanical loads that secondary payloads (small SC) experience during Soyuz-2/Fregat ground operations and launch.

Applications must be submitted to award@iafastro.org by 8 August 2019 and shall include:

Description of bidding organisation and background experience with respect to CubeSats (if available);

Description of proposed CubeSat mission;

Description of available facilities (e.g. integration and test facilities, ground station);

Funding and readiness status.

A joint IAF – GK Launch Services Selection Board will review the applications and select the winner who will be announced at the IAC 2019 in Washington D.C. taking place from 21 – 25 October 2019.

GK LAUNCH SERVICES IS AN OPERATOR OF SOYUZ-2 COMMERCIAL LAUNCHES FROM THE RUSSIAN SPACE PORTS.

GK Launch Services is established in 2017 by Glavkosmos (a subsidiary of ROSCOSMOS State Space Corporation) and International Space Company Kosmotras.

More information on GK Launch Services can be found here.

To further promote affordable access to space, please check the unique online price calculator for small satellites and CubeSats of up to 120 kg mass that provides price estimation within one business day.