CubeSat Suborbital Launch Services
KSF Space Foundation
Three-platform suborbital and near-space launch service for CubeSat and nanosatellite hardware validation: JUPITER 1 rocket, supersonic UAV, and high-altitude balloon.
Technical specifications
- JUPITER 1 — Maximum Altitude
- Exceeds 30,000 km
- JUPITER 1 — Payload Capacity
- Up to 3 CubeSat units per flight
- JUPITER 1 — Stages
- Two-stage reusable
- JUPITER 1 — Recovery System
- Included
- JUPITER 1 — Launch Sites
- USA
- Supersonic UAV — Maximum Altitude
- 80 km
- Supersonic UAV — Speed
- Mach 1.1
- Supersonic UAV — Ascent Time
- Less than 80 seconds
- Supersonic UAV — Payload Capacity
- Up to 150 kg
- Supersonic UAV — Launch Sites
- Global (partner-dependent)
- Space Balloon — Maximum Altitude
- 35–40 km
- Space Balloon — Test Duration
- Single day or up to 2 weeks
- Space Balloon — Launch Sites
- USA and UK
About
KSF Space provides three complementary suborbital and near-space launch platforms for CubeSat and nanosatellite payload testing before committing to full orbital missions. The service enables hardware validation in actual space conditions — vacuum, thermal extremes, vibration, and radiation — at a fraction of orbital mission costs. Three options are available: the JUPITER 1 dedicated suborbital rocket (a two-stage reusable vehicle developed with Kansas University Aerospace Department), a supersonic UAV capable of Mach 1.1 and 80 km altitude, and a high-altitude space balloon reaching 35–40 km. Each platform targets different testing requirements and altitudes, giving satellite developers a cost-effective pre-launch validation pathway. Testing capabilities include vibration/acoustic stress validation, thermal cycling, vacuum exposure, antenna deployment verification, and communication link reliability checks.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
