It is our great pleasure to inform you that the U.S.-Ukrainian Antares Project has won The 2020 Laurels for Team Achievement, the most prestigious team award of the International Academy of Astronautics.

By joining the forces and knowledge of two different schools of space technology, Ukrainian and American engineers have managed to develop a reliable, effective, and low-cost launch vehicle for cargo delivery missions to the ISS under NASA’s COTS and CSR programs. This made it possible to deliver food and equipment to the ISS, enabling the international team of astronauts to maintain ISS functioning and carry out scientific and research experiments aboard the ISS.

The prime developer of the launch vehicle is Northrop Grumman Corporation of the United States. Antares’s Stage 1 Core Structure was developed by YUZHNOYE State Design Office and manufactured by YUZHMASH Production Association in cooperation with other Ukrainian companies such as Hartron-ARKOS, Kyivprylad, Hartron-YUKOM, CheZaRa, RAPID, and others.

The professional approach to the launch vehicle and ground equipment design process enabled Antares to utilize in full the available infrastructure of NASA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) with minimum modifications required, which makes Antares the largest launch vehicle being currently operated at the MARS space launch facility.

The reliable design solutions and system architecture of Antares enabled the adaptability of the launch vehicle’s structure, allowing fast upgrade to provide a higher payload capacity and meet the growing requirements of larger payloads to the ISS.

The effective management system of Antares prelaunch and launch operations at the space launch facility, the expert skills and experience of two different schools of space technology, and cooperation between Ukrainian and American engineers are the things that ensure flawless missions conforming with assigned schedules and requirements for maintaining the effective operation of the ISS.

Antares’s high reliability and environmental friendliness allow launches near nature reserves and inhabited areas in full compliance with safety requirements, including the impact on the environment of Wallops Island in Virginia, the United States.

Antares made its maiden flight on April 21, 2013. By now, there have been twelve successful flights, with about 30 tons of payload delivered to the ISS.

Antares is a shining example of the successful and fruitful international cooperation focused on the global goals of the peaceful use of space and the scientific and technology progress of humankind.

Yuzhnoye’s winners of The Laurels for Team Achievement Award: S.N. Koniukhov, A.V. Degtyarev, S.A. Davydenko, M.A. Degtiarov, Ye.I. Shevtsov, A.P. Kushnar’ov, D.A. Pozdniakov, A.V. Agarkov, Ie.Yu. Baranov, A.M. Mashchenko, O.M. Ventskovskiy.