Jean-Marie Luton’s annual April visit to
Japan provided the chairman and CEO an
opportunity to underscore Arianespace’s
long-term commitment to this market, in
which the company is marked its 15th year of
on-site presence.
He noted that since his visit last year in
April, Arianespace successfully launched the
following Japanese satellites: N-SAT-110
communications spacecraft for Space
Communications Corporation and JSAT
Corporation, the BSAT-2a broadcasting
platform for the BSAT Broadcasting System
Corporation, and the LDREX large deployable satellite reflector experiment for the
NASDA national space agency.
“We are very happy to have satisfied customers here, and we are preparing to launch
more satellites for Japan,” Luton told clients, government officials, company managers
and other guests at Arianespace’s April 19 gala reception. “Before we meet again next
April, we will launch BSAT-2b for BSAT Corporation, JCSAT-8 for JSAT Corporation,
NSTAR-c for NTT DoCoMo, and possibly the Optus-C1 for Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation or MELCO.”
Luton expressed Arianespace’s gratitude to its Japanese customers, and committed
the company to do its utmost to satisfy them. He noted the Ariane 5’s highly
successful entry into commercial service will further strengthen Arianespace’s
competitive positioning in key markets such as Japan.
According to Luton, Arianespace was convinced of the Japanese market’s importance
from early in the company’s history, which is why its Tokyo office was set up 15 years
ago.
“Right from Arianespace’s creation, we wanted to set up operations in Japan to support
the development of space communications in your country.” Luton told reporters at his
April 19 press conference. “Since 1989, we have launched 15 satellites for Japanese
customers, along with the LDREX antenna experiment for NASDA. All in all, we have
won 18 out of the 24 Japanese commercial launch contracts open to competition.”
