Two S. Korean Satellites To Be Launched On Russian Soyuz Carrier Rocket

Russia’s Glavcosmos and Glavcosmos Launch Services have signed the first contract with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to launch the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket with two South Korean satellites.

The Soyuz-2.1a will be used as a carrier rocket for both missions, with the Fregat upper stage. Along with the CAS500-1 and CAS500-2 satellites, two launches will send two payloads into orbit, Tass reported Monday.

Glavcosmos and Glavcosmos Launch Services signed a contract with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to launch the CAS500-1 space vehicle on August 17, and a similar contract to launch the CAS500-2 was signed with the Korea Aerospace Industries on August 18.

A joint team of Glavcosmos and Glavcosmos Launch Services prepared a proposal for a launch service contest for two South Korean space vehicles in February 2017. 

The Russian companies, the CAS500-1 and CAS500-2 space vehicles are Earth-observation models that will picture the Earth in panchromatic and multispectral modes with the use of the AEISS-C (Advanced Earth Imaging Sensor System) payload. 

Glavcosmos is an affiliate of the Roscosmos state corporation which aims to advance the products and services of Russian aerospace companies to the global market, as well as manage complex international projects. 

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute is South Korea’s leading space exploration company. The company was also assigned to manufacture the CAS500-2 satellite.