The Yuzhnoye Design Office in Dnipro, Ukraine has been authorized by the State Space Agency of Ukraine to proceed with a new international launch complex and operations in North America based on the existing Cyclone 4 rocket.

The search has begun for business and investment partners to develop the launch infrastructure and conduct sales, marketing, and mission management. On site assessments have already been conducted in Canada and the United States for possible launch complex locations.

The all Ukrainian vehicle will offer highly competitive pricing in this launch class along with reliable launch services, and eliminate the need for US customers to seek waivers for the use of other launch service providers. Operating from North America will provide operational convenience with negligible export control issues for customers. Cyclone 4 launch service target pricing will be $45 million USD (all inclusive) for 3700kg payloads to sun synchronous orbit.

Locations in Canada are being considered which would leverage and build upon the close ties between Canada and Ukraine, and would provide much desired economic activity to the municipalities involved. John Isella, US representative of the Yuzhnoye Design Office (Designer of the Cyclone 4) said “Operating Cyclone 4 commercially in North America will be attractive to investors and customers alike. We’re pleased at the prospect of bringing this mature launch system into commercial operation. Cyclone 4 will make a significant positive impact on the business cases of spacecraft constellation operators.”

The Cyclone 4 launch vehicle design is complete and the first flight vehicle  manufacturing is nearly complete and will be ready for launch shortly. It’s estimated that with sufficient and timely funding the launch site construction will take 2.5 years since the ground systems are also designed and partially manufactured.

Yuzhnoye in Ukraine has been in operation for 62 years and has launched 875 vehicles and built and launched over 400 spacecraft. The Cyclone family of vehicles have launched successfully 221 times.

For further information please contact John Isella

john.isella@yuzhnoye-us.com

+1 321-537-2720