Launch Vehicle Options for Small Satellite Systems

The small satellite industry faces a special challenge when it comes to the selection of a launch vehicle. Given the limited number of dedicated lifters and a disadvantageous payload weight/cost ratio, the launch planner must often compromise satellite system performance to remain within the profiles of throw weight, altitude, inclination, and cost associated with the obvious choices of launch vehicles. This paper provides a detailed look at the world\u27s inventory of launch vehicles, particularly those that are appropriate for use as dedicated lifters of small satellites and those that can accommodate small satellites as non-primary payloads. The term small satellite includes spacecraft up to 500 kg in weight. The descriptions of the vehicles provided herein include representative examples of each type, highlighting the characteristics that are most important to launch planners. The purpose of the paper is to permit the program planner to recognize those vehicles which fit the mission profile for cost and orbital performance. Sufficient information will be provided in this paper and in the oral presentation at the conference to reveal some less obvious options for both dedicated and piggy-back missions. Emphasis is placed on the needs of the small satellite community, particularly on the cost performance trades that have great leverage on the capitalization and the on-orbit capabilities of small-scale systems. The material is derived from open sources including industry publications and vendor literature, and is supplemented by interviews with suppliers and users of launch services