Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M | CAS500-1 & rideshare

CAS500-1 is the first of two South Korean Earth observation satellites. These spacecraft feature the AEISS-C imaging system with a ground resolution of 0.5 m in panchromatic mode and 2 m in color mode. More than a dozen other satellites are included as secondary payloads, among them being the first spacecraft by the Catalan Space Agency.

The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle.

GK Launch Services is a company established by Glavkosmos (a subsidiary of Roscosmos State Space Corporation) and International Space Company Kosmotras. GK Launch Services is an operator of Soyuz-2 commercial launches from the Russian spaceports.