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Feature story

The Launch Services Alliance takes the spotlight in Washington, D.C. during its first news conference

March 22, 2005

The Launch Services Alliance's power of mission assurance was underscored during the innovative industry grouping's first joint press conference - which included the announcement of a new commercial contract.

Meeting today with journalists in Washington, D.C., top managers of Arianespace, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Sea Launch said recent mission successes with the three launch vehicles covered by the Alliance validates the robust back-up available through their joint offer.

The Launch Services Alliance press conference in Washington, D.C. brought together (from left to right) Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall; Jim Maser, Sea Launch President & General Manager; and Shoichiro Asada, Director of the H-IIA Launch Services Office, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

In a 17-day period last month, Arianespace's Ariane 5, the Mitsubishi Industries H-IIA and Sea Launch's Zenit-3SL all carried their satellite payloads into highly accurate orbits.

With these three vehicles now proven and in operational service, the Launch Services Alliance is unique in its ability to orbit satellites weighing from one to six metric tons - utilizing launch systems that operate from modern, hurricane-free facilities spanning the globe.

Focusing on February 12's flawless mission with the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA launcher version, Arianespace Chief Executive Officer Jean-Yves Le Gall said this improved vehicle will help stimulate the satellite launch services industry.

"The Ariane 5 ECA placed 8.3 metric tons into geostationary orbit on its successful flight last month - the largest commercial payload ever launched, and its capacity to lift up to 10 metric tons opens the way for even more record-breaking flights using our dual manifest system," Le Gall said. "The Ariane 5 ECA's success stabilizes actuarial coverage of satellite launches, and we believe it has the potential to lower launch insurance premiums industry-wide."

Le Gall also said the launcher's capability to orbit dual satellite payloads reduces the mission cost-per-kilogram, which helps trim expenses for satellite operators. Arianespace's ability to match up pairs of satellites on its flights has been demonstrated in regular operations since the 1980s, with 71 missions performed carrying such multiple payloads.

In his announcement of the latest contract to be handled within the Launch Services Alliance, Le Gall said Paradigm Secure Communications has reached agreement on Ariane 5 ECA and Zenit-3SL back-up launch capability for an important telecommunications satellite to be launched in 2006.

Paradigm Secure Communications is providing global military satellite communications infrastructure to the United Kingdom's defense forces. Telecommunications relay capacity also is available to the county's government departments and agencies/organizations that require secure communications, and services are offered as well to other nations and military organizations such as NATO.

Commenting on the new Paradigm agreement, Sea Launch Company President and General Manager Jim Maser noted this is the fourth client contract to employ the Launch Services Alliance's mission assurance concept by selecting Ariane 5 and Zenit-3SL.

"We continue to receive excellent feedback from our customers about the schedule assurance that the Launch Services Alliance offers," Maser said. "We're proud to be a strong partner in the Alliance, and look forward to future opportunities that it can create. Going forward, we anticipate several announcements about new contracts and new opportunities."