Launch Brokers
Definition and Role
Launch brokers are companies or individuals who act as intermediaries between satellite operators or payload owners, and launch service providers. They facilitate the process of securing a launch opportunity by negotiating contracts, arranging payload integration, and managing schedules. Launch brokers typically service customers who want to deploy small satellite payloads.
Services
Launch brokers may provide some or all of the following:
- Planning: Launch brokers analyze the requirements of a payload, such as its size, weight, and desired orbit, to determine the most suitable launch vehicle and launch service provider.
- Price negotiation: Launch brokers negotiate the cost of the launch service on behalf of the payload owner, leveraging their industry knowledge and relationships to secure favorable terms.
- Mission management: They coordinate schedules between the payload owner and launch service provider to ensure timely integration, launch, and orbital insertion.
- Payload integration: Launch brokers manage the technical aspects of integrating the payload with the launch vehicle, ensuring compatibility and compliance with industry standards.
- Risk management: They help manage the risks associated with launching a payload, including mission feasibility analysis, insurance, technical, and regulatory risks.
- Orbital transfer: Some launch brokers may provide the option of using an orbital transfer vehicle to deliver satellites to custom orbits.
Launch Brokers in the Space Industry
- Spaceflight [Mission Planning Guide] [Insurance] [Mission Feasibility Analysis]
- Precious Payload
- International Launch Services (ILS)
- Exolaunch
Note that this list is not exhaustive.
Launch Service Providers
Definition and Role
Launch service providers (LSP) are companies that operate and manage the launch of spacecraft into orbit, providing the necessary infrastructure, technologies, and expertise to deliver payloads, such as satellites or crewed spacecraft, into space. LSPs cater to the needs of a range of clients, including government agencies, satellite operators, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Services
Launch service providers may provide some or all of the following:
- Launch vehicle development: Designing, manufacturing, and maintaining the launch vehicles (rockets) used to transport payloads into space.
- Launch vehicle operations: Managing the entire launch process, from countdown and liftoff to the separation of stages and the deployment of payloads into their target orbits.
- Launch site management: Maintaining and operating launch facilities, including launch pads, integration facilities, and control centers.
- Licensing and regulatory compliance: Obtaining necessary launch related licenses and permits from relevant regulatory authorities and ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, and security regulations.
- Customer support: Providing technical support, mission planning, and integration services to clients, as well as coordinating with launch brokers.
- Rideshare: some launch service providers provide satellite rideshare as an optional.
Launch Service Providers
- SpaceX [Rideshare Payload User's Guide] [Cake Toppers Payload User's Guide]
- United Launch Alliance (ULA)
- Arianespace
- Roscosmos
Note that this list is not exhaustive.