For several decades rockets were built to deliver satellites that weigh several hundred or thousand kilograms. None of the launch providers were really interested in just putting satellites into orbit that were the size of a shoebox or typical refrigerator, because of the insignificantly low returns they would get in accommodating these satellites against larger payloads.

However, over the last decade, the CubeSat and small satellite revolution has created a growing demand for launch services for these satellites.

In this article we provide a gentle primer to the topic of how the demand for CubeSat and small satellites has evolved and give an overview of some of the launch service providers currently available on the global marketplace for space.

In the next few chapters we take a brief look at how launch service provision works and discuss what key performance characteristics need to be taken into account when selecting a product for your operation. If you would instead like to skip down to view the product listings, please click here.

Do you know of any launch options for CubeSats and small satellites that we’ve missed? Please drop us a note at [email protected] or on Twitter. Alternatively, if you’d like to list your products and services on satsearch, get started here.





(Image credit: Spaceflight Industries)





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Introduction

The sudden emergence of an avalanche of CubeSats and small satellites in the space industry over the last decade has created a classic problem of demand and supply for space launches. Essentially, because the big rockets had to find a way to accommodate and adapt to servicing multiple CubeSats and other small satellites on their rockets.

Given that only a handful of launches are available for any satellite to get to orbit every year, multiple satellite manufacturers have been trying to get on board launch manifests as quickly as possible to ensure their satellites can deploy and provide services to their customers. This demand-and-supply problem has created an opportunity for service providers who can streamline the entire process of procuring a launch, and the space industry has seen the emergence of several launch service providers.

In this article we look at some of the factors that should be taken into account while selecting a launch service provider. We also provide an overview of a number of launch service providers on the market, all of which are listed on the satsearch platform to help you select the best option.





The lifecycle of launching a CubeSat or a small satellite

Once a satellite is built there are several aspects that need to be taken care of in the process of launching it into space to ensure safety and success:

Finding a launch slot: Although there are tens of launch vehicles under development in the industry today, reliable launch options are scarce. There is no use for a satellite sitting in a lab and finding a launch slot that coincides with the final assembly of the satellite can be challenging. There are also barriers to accessing certain launch options such as the fact that US satellites are not allowed to launch out of Chinese rockets.

Launcher requirements and contract management : once a launch option is selected the price, window for launch and other aspects such as compliance to the environmental requirements of the rocket need to be agreed.

Use of launch adapters and deployers : Cubesats cannot be integrated directly into a rocket and need deployers or dispensers to get into orbit. Similarly, small satellites of various volumes or masses may not have specific launch interface adapters available from the launch providers. A decision to use a particular deployer, or work with the launch operator to use their adapter, needs to be made as a part of interfacing with the rocket.

Transport and integration: after the satellite is built, integrated and tested it needs to be transported safely, to remote locations where launches are often conducted to integrate it into the rockets. This involves clearance of the satellite through export control, customs, final environmental tests, integration and checkout tests of the satellite into the rocket.

Types of launch options for CubeSats and small satellites

Launch service providers: Launch service providers enable teams building CubeSats and small satellites to access a launch seamlessly by solving the major problems that satellite manufacturers and satellite-based service providers face in getting to orbit. As the supply of launches are scarce in the industry, launch service providers help plan and discover the optimum launch options catering to the mission, orbit, timeframe and budget.

Launch service providers make life easy for teams trying to launch their satellites by taking the risk of booking a launch with the rocket (launch provider) and offering slots as individual contracts. Once a potential launch provider is selected, the details of interfacing the satellite into the launch vehicle and complying with the requirements of the launch vehicle are all provided on behalf of the launch operator.

Launch service providers package the provision of launch adapters and Picosatellite Orbital Deployers (PODs) so that both the launch provider and the satellite manufacturers don’t need to bother about having the right mechanical and electrical interfaces with the launch vehicle. Once a decision is made to choose a particular launch option, all the legal and regulatory aspects of launch support, provision of the deployers, the necessary environmental tests, transport of the satellite, clearance of customs, running of final tests and integrating the satellite with the rocket is all taken care of by these launch service providers.

Launch operators who also do service provision: Traditionally, aggregating demand for CubeSats and small satellites was difficult for launch operators, and this is one of the reasons why they depended on service providers to aggregate this demand. For example, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from India has seen tens of satellites being launched into space on multiple campaigns organised by launch service providers such as Spaceflight Industries, who aggregated the demand.

However, this landscape is now evolving with launch operators such as SpaceX and RocketLab themselves looking to provide services. This phenomenon may become bigger as many other small satellite rocket operators may come online to make the entire process of getting to orbit smoother for CubeSat and small satellite manufacturers.

International Space Station (ISS) based launch services: The ISS is a free flying asset in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) which has been leveraged over the last few years to deploy CubeSats and small satellites. The low orbit of ISS ensures that these satellites have a short life span in orbit and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere within a few years.

The Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) attached to the Japanese module’s robotic arm is used by astronauts who seal the airlock on the ISS, open the other end up to space, and command the station’s Kibo robotic arm to pick up the deployer to bring it outside for satellite deployment. ISS based launch service providers are specific to US and Japan as they are key stakeholders in using the Kibo robotic arm. The ISS can also be used to perform experiments inside the station.

Orbit as a service: Launch vehicles often deliver satellites into an orbit with a specific inclination, altitude. However, satellites launched as a part of the constellation often need to go into different inclinations so that they can maximize the service area over the Earth’s surface. This can be solved by adding a propulsion device on the satellites, but that will obviously make the satellites more expensive and also add additional weight.

This problem is creating another opportunity in the launch service provision industry to create a service to deliver satellites launched as a part of a constellation on the same rocket to go into different inclinations. We call this the ‘orbit as a service’ model.

Marketplaces for launch services: Emerging start-ups are testing the possibility of streamlining the launch industry by creating a marketplace for teams seeking out launch opportunities. They may be more widely used once several launch operators mature and tens of reliable options available in the market to choose from.

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of what are the important aspects to consider in selecting a launch service provider, you can make an informed decision from the available launch service providers, based on your preferences.





Launch options for CubeSats and small satellites on the market

Below we have listed several launch options for CubeSats and small satellites that are currently available.

Please note that this list will be updated when new products are added to the global marketplace for space - so please check back for more.



Launch service providers





EXOLAUNCH began as spinoff from the Technical University of Berlin and today offers launch services, mission management solutions and deployment systems for small satellites.

The company offers a tailored launch service designed to meet the specific needs of each smallsat customer with a variety of launch opportunities are available including LEO/SSO and GTO/GEO.

Previous clients have included some of the world’s most ambitious startups and established companies along with universities, space agencies and scientific institutions.

Satellites launched to date - 85

- 85 CubeSats launched to date (0.25-16U) - 76

- 76 Microsats launched to date (up to 200kg) - 9





Spaceflight Industries provide services to help clients identify, book and manage rideshare launches. The company aims to offer a straightforward and cost-effective suite of products and services that includes

State-of-the-art satellite infrastructure,

Rideshare launch offerings,

Payload integration, and

Global communications networks.

Ultimately, Spaceflight enables commercial, non-profit organizations and government entities to achieve their mission goals – on time and on budget.

Satellites launched to date - 250

- 250 Launch vehicles in network - 10









Alba Orbital has developed strong partnerships with several launch companies and brokers to offer a range of PocketQube launch opportunities to companies, universities and teams. The company currently runs an annual launch service to ensure reliable access to space for PocketQube teams. As demand increases they expect to increase this cadence to offer biannual then quarterly launch opportunities.

The secondary payload market allows small satellites to be flown alongside other satellites. Existing launch brokers have typically not been interested in PocketQubes, as you need a large number of satellites to fill any launch vehicle. Alba Orbital’s PocketQubes launch service can offer a highly cost-effective solution compared with other options launching CubeSats to LEO, democratizing access to space.

Satellites launched to date: On the 6th of December 2019, Alba Orbital successfully launched ‘Alba Cluster 2’ and deployed 6 PocketQubes via Albapod into orbit. To date, Alba has successfully deployed more PocketQubes into orbit than any other organisation.





Launch operators providing integrated services





SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.

SpaceX offers competitive pricing for launches on its well-known Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy systems. The company can also offer discounts for multi-launch purchases for clients able to commit to a longer term contract. In addition, SpaceX can also offer crew transportation services for certain LEO destinations.

Launch vehicles in network - 3

- 3 Launches currently contracted - 100+





Rocket Lab created its flagship Electron program to deliver frequent and reliable access to space for smallsats. Electron is an entirely carbon-composite vehicle that uses Rocket Lab’s 3D-printed Rutherford engines for primary propulsion.

The vehicle is a 2-stage rocket that is 17m in length and has a diameter of 1.2m. The vehicle delivers nominal payloads of up to 150kg (maximum is 225kg) to a 500km sun-synchronous orbit.

Satellites launched to date - 40





International Space Station (ISS) based launch services





Space BD is a space services and launch company based in Tokyo, Japan. After its founding in 2017, the company has grown rapidly to become the leading company in ISS utilization, and was selected by JAXA to provide smallsat deployment service from the ISS “Kibo” module. It can deploy cubesats up to 6U as well as 50-kg size microsatellites.

It recently won the RFP by JAXA to provide rideshares using Japan’s flagship launchers, H-IIA and H3, to SSO/LEO and GTO.

Space BD also provides in-orbit demonstration service using i-SEEP, an external platform on the exterior of the Kibo module, to allow space equipments and instruments to gain valuable flight heritage to increase its TRL. Users can receive power and communication capacity by attaching their payload to the platform via plug-and-play interface.

Space BD aims to lower the burden of accessing space and contribute to the commercialization of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) region by providing solutions through business-driven approach to overcome various obstacles with the industrialization of space.

Payloads launched to date – Space BD deployed the cubesat for its first commercial customer in Nov 2019, with further 17 contracted projects for J-SSOD and i-SEEP combined

Note: Prior to commercialization, during 2012-2019, JAXA has deployed 41 cubesats with J-SSOD for academic projects.





NanoRacks LLC was founded in 2009 in Houston, Texas and is a market leader in commercial small satellite launches from the ISS. NanoRacks CubeSat Deployers provide the opportunity for customers to deploy CubeSats up to 6U in size ranging from 1 to 50 kilograms.

The deployment platform also allows for multiple satellites to be deployed in sequence, enhancing abilities to create CubeSat constellations. Additionally, NanoRacks has for the first time launched its External CubeSat Deployer on OA-6 that is mounted to Cygnus, and will deploy after Cygnus departs ISS.

On-board the ISS, NanoRacks provides plug-and-play microgravity research facilities, allowing standardized payloads to use a range of platforms. NanoRacks aims to enhance space utilization in low earth orbit and beyond.

Payloads launched to date - 900+





Orbit as a service





D-Orbit is a NewSpace company with solutions covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including mission analysis and design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, and end-of-life decommissioning.

D-Orbit states that its competitive advantage is the versatility of launch and deployment services available, which can be tailored to the customer’s needs. From the launch procurement of a single spacecraft using standard deployment strategies to the precise deployment of a full constellation with ION CubeSat Carrier, a free-flying dispenser developed and operated by D-Orbit.

ION CubeSat Carrier can host any combination of CubeSats with a total volume of up to 48U and release them individually into distinct orbital slots, enabling deployment schemes previously unavailable to spacecraft with no independent propulsion.





Momentus provides in-space transportation services for satellites between various orbits out to deep space. The company’s water powered in-space rockets provide last mile logistics, connecting customers from where their rockets drop them off to their final destination. Momentus’ mission is to provide the most efficient in-space transportation powered by deep space resource utilization services.





Digital services for satellite launches





Precious Payload is a digital space mission management tool that features manifests and rideshare slots posted directly by launch operators and services from other suppliers, such as ground segment providers, insurance brokers, and hardware manufacturers. The aim is to reduce costs and time associated with procuring mission management by adopting standards and introducing automatic matchmaking algorithms.

Precious Payload advocates for building a GDS-like (global distribution system) architecture for space launches, ground segment and other market players similar to what has been done for airlines and cargo shipments when those industries entered the internet age.





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