What satellites are typically launched to Medium Earth Orbit?

Earth observation, remote sensing, and communications smallsats are commonly launched to Medium Earth Orbit. CubeSats and SmallSats below 500kg are the most frequent payload types on rideshare missions to this orbit.

How do I find a rideshare slot to Medium Earth Orbit?

Browse the launch windows listed on this page. Filter by rocket, provider, and schedule to find a rideshare mission matching your mission requirements. Each window shows available service offers with pricing.

What is the average cost to launch a 3U CubeSat to Medium Earth Orbit?

CubeSat rideshare prices to Medium Earth Orbit typically range from $5,000 to $12,000 for a 3U, depending on the provider and rocket. Compare current offers on KOSMOLAB SPACE for the latest pricing.

Orbit · MEO

Medium Earth Orbit Launch Services

Browse 13 launch windows targeting Medium Earth orbit. Compare rideshare slots, providers, and book your CubeSat deployment.

13 Launch windows

6 Rocket types

4 Providers

2,000–35,786 km Altitude / inclination

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) spans the band from 2,000 km to 35,786 km, between the inner Van Allen belt and geostationary altitude. The most commercially significant MEO altitude is ~20,200 km, where GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou navigation constellations operate — selected because MEO offers global coverage with fewer satellites than LEO while avoiding the harsh inner belt radiation.

MEO is also used for some communications systems (O3b/SES mPower operates at ~8,062 km MEO for low-latency broadband) and space domain awareness missions. The primary challenge for MEO payloads is radiation tolerance: instruments and electronics must be rated for the elevated proton and electron flux of the Van Allen belts.

Dedicated MEO rideshare is rare; most MEO payloads fly as hosted instruments on navigation or communications constellation satellites. Browse current MEO launch windows and hosted payload opportunities on KOSMOLAB SPACE to compare your options.