Government?s Lavochkin develops state-of-the-art gear for private satellite program

Lavochkin NPO, a major Russian state-owned aerospace company, is expected to develop special equipment for Dauria Aerospace, a privately-held nanosatellite maker.

Lavochkin NPO, a major Russian state-owned aerospace company, is expected to develop special equipment for Dauria Aerospace, a privately-held nanosatellite maker in Moscow, Dauria announced. Under the terms of an agreement inked last week, Lavochkin will develop a sophisticated adaptor enabling the launch of the CubeSat nanosatellites?one of Dauria?s three major development programs?using the Fregat upper stage boost unit that Lavochkin manufactures. That will be a noticeable fast track for Dauria?s universal launch container project. The containers are designed to launch nano- and microsatellites ranging in size from 1U (one 10x10 centimeter cube) to 6U (spacecraft containing six such cubes). ?The use of such containers will enable Roscosmos [Russia?s main space exploration program operator] to launch the CubeSat spacecraft that we develop in Russia for scientific and educational purposes[/Russia]...