Smallsat Rideshares and Launch Aggregators

Abstract

The “smallsat” revolution has created a new and immediate need for additional launch capabilities for a variety of small payloads, ranging from 1U cubesats to larger smallsats of various different designs and applications, ranging up to 500 kg, and indeed some definitions even include satellites up to 1, 000 kg as “small.” An important component of this new market is the wide variety of types of small satellites and the expanding nature of organizations building them. One of the most critical factors in sizing the launch market for small satellites is the rapidly expanding number of the proposed very large constellations. Many of these constellations envision the launching of hundreds and even many thousands of small satellites that will drive the size of launcher market and dominate new launcher offerings. Earlier chapters in this section have covered the traditional and existing launch capabilities and how they might be configured to launch small satellites - particularly for small satellite constellations. Thus, the first chapter in this section has considered well-established launchers such as Soyuz, Ariane, Delta, Atlas, the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), etc. The second chapter in this section covers the new small launch options. In this chapter, the focus is on the several existing and available rideshare launch vehicle options and how they can accommodate small satellite launch needs. It will also consider the new and rapidly evolving business of “smallsat launch aggregators” which provide the service of working with cubesat and other component manufacturer needs for the services of an experienced integrator who can manage all of the regulatory and engineering processes and who will work with the launch provider or even make all of the arrangements for the launch.