Glavkosmos is a Russian launch service provider and subsidiary of the State Corporation for Space Activities "Roscosmos".[1][2] In the Soviet Union, Glavkosmos was the prime authority for implementing cooperative agreements with foreign bodies, with activities including commercial utilisation of Soviet systems and flying foreign cosmonauts aboard Soviet spacecraft. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union and creation of Roscosmos, it has been concerned with converting military technology for use in civil applications as well as commercialisation of Russian space technology.[3]
History
On 26 February 1985, the Ministry of General Machine-Building of the Soviet Union issued an order that formed the Main Department for the creation and use of space technology for the national economy and scientific research – Glavkosmos.[4] Although it was originally envisioned to command all Soviet space activities