Evry, France, January 4, 2005 – Arianespace is celebrating its 25th
anniversary in 2005, marking a new milestone for the world’s first
commercial launch services company that was created in 1980.
Providing launch services that meet the market’s needs
Throughout its quarter-century of operation – and in a competitive
environment that is increasingly difficult – Arianespace has distinguished
itself by developing solutions that meet the market’s needs, today and
tomorrow. Arianespace has at its disposition a complete launch family of
European Space Agency vehicles: Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega. Associated with it
is mission assurance capacity offered through Arianespace’s participation in
the Launch Services Alliance, which brings together the availability of
Ariane 5 with the Sea Launch and H-IIA vehicles.
As a result of its innovative policies, Arianespace has maintained the
leadership position and is no. 1 in launch services solutions.
Technical consolidation
In 2004, three Ariane 5 Generic missions were performed by Arianespace,
successfully launching the Rosetta spacecraft on a trajectory to encounter a
comet, orbiting the Anik F2 satellite (the world’s largest
telecommunications platform ever launched) and lofting the Helios 2A
reconnaissance satellite. In parallel, Arianespace moved forward with the
preparation of the next mission with its heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA – which is
scheduled on February 11. This will be followed by five other Ariane 5
missions that also are planned for 2005.
For the future operations of Soyuz from the Guiana Space Center,
construction activities on the new launch site moved into full swing in
2004. Concerning the launcher itself, the Soyuz 2-1a version made its
successful maiden flight on November 8, and the Soyuz 2-1b is expected to be
launched in mid 2006. For commercial operations performed under the
responsibility of Starsem, three Soyuz missions are planned from Baikonur
Cosmodrome in 2005.
The Vega program also is moving forward, with development work on this
lightweight launcher progressing in 2004 for a maiden flight of the vehicle
in 2007.
Another key event in 2004 was the first launch assigned by Arianespace to
Sea Launch in the framework of the Launch Services Alliance – for which
mission preparations were carried out in record time to respond to the
customer’s requirements.
Financial reinforcement adds to Arianespace’s strength
Following historic decisions taken by the Council of the European Space
Agency, Arianespace now has the means to meet its commercial goals.
With its streamlined staff, the company has received a key vote of
confidence from its 23 shareholders, which – as promised – committed to a
recapitalization at the level of 60 million euros.
These actions allowed Arianespace to sign a contract for the production of
30 Ariane 5 launchers and to confirm its participation in the project to
bring Soyuz operations to the Guiana Space Center.
In 2004, Arianespace’s turnover reached approximately 700 million euros,
keeping the company in the black for another year.
Commercial successes during 2004
In 2004, Arianespace once again confirmed its position as the world’s
leading commercial launch services company, signing 12 contracts: eight for
Ariane 5 and four involving launches with Soyuz. In addition, Arianespace’s
Starsem affiliate signed 2 contracts for Soyuz missions.
As of January 4, 2005, Arianespace’s backlog stands at 40 satellites to be
launched (35 for Ariane 5 – of which nine are with the ATV resupply
spacecraft for the International Space Station; 3 Soyuz missions from the
Guiana Space Center, and 2 Soyuz flights from Baikonur Cosmodrome). The
Starsem backlog stands at 5 satellites to be launched.
