ISC Kosmotras – Launch Operator Summary

ISC Kosmotras (International Space Company Kosmotras) is a joint Russian-Ukrainian launch service provider that specializes in commercial satellite launches using the converted Dnepr launch vehicle, which is based on the decommissioned Soviet-era RS-20 (NATO: SS-18 “Satan”) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

🚀 Company Overview

• Founded: 1997
• Headquarters: Moscow, Russia
• Launch Vehicle: Dnepr (converted RS-20/SS-18 ICBM)
• Primary Launch Sites:
o Yasny Launch Base, Dombarovsky Air Base, Russia
o Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

📜 History & Background

ISC Kosmotras was established as a commercial partnership between Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, with the aim of converting military ICBMs into reliable and cost-effective space launch vehicles. The idea was to repurpose decommissioned RS-20 missiles under international disarmament agreements into civilian space transportation systems.
The company quickly gained a reputation for launching low-cost, high-capacity rideshare missions, particularly for small satellites, CubeSats, and research payloads. The Dnepr rocket became well-known for its ability to deploy multiple satellites in a single launch, making it a popular choice for international customers.

🛰️ Launch Highlights

• First Launch: April 21, 1999
• Notable Multi-Satellite Launches:
o Dnepr Cluster Mission (June 19, 2014): Successfully launched 37 satellites for 17 countries — a record at the time for the number of payloads delivered in one mission.
o Other customers have included: NASA, ESA, commercial operators like Planet Labs, Spire Global, and university consortia from Europe, Asia, and South America.

🔑 Key Points

• Dual-purpose capability: Leveraged Cold War-era missile technology for peaceful, commercial space access.
• Cost-effective: Known for providing affordable access to space for small satellite developers and academic institutions.
• International collaboration: Launched payloads for a wide range of international space agencies, startups, and universities.
• Operational challenges: Political tensions between Russia and Ukraine have disrupted operations, with launches becoming less frequent after 2015.
• Retirement of Dnepr: As of the late 2010s, the Dnepr program has largely been phased out due to geopolitical issues and aging hardware.

ISC Kosmotras played a vital role in opening space access to a wide range of international partners through its innovative use of repurposed ICBM technology. Though its activity has declined in recent years, the company’s legacy continues to influence modern Rideshare launch models.

In February 2015, following a year of deteriorating relations after Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, Russia announced it would end its joint Dnepr launch program with Ukraine. Despite this decision, ISC Kosmotras stated that it would fulfill its remaining launch contracts. Of the three Dnepr launches planned for 2015, only one was ultimately carried out. By 2016, ISC Kosmotras appeared to have no active customers, leaving its operational status uncertain.

In May 2017, ISC Kosmotras partnered with Glavkosmos to form a new joint venture called GK Launch Services, focused on providing commercial rideshare launches aboard the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle. The venture successfully completed its first fully commercial launch on 22 March 2021, marking a new phase in Russia’s commercial launch services.

Rideshare missions by ISC Kosmotras

Dedicated missions by ISC Kosmotras