Feature story
Arianespace commits to long-term leadership in the launch services marketplace
2006 Customer Seminar special report
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May 1, 2006
Arianespace is strengthening its launch services leadership position by evolving a dependable and reactive family of launchers, maintaining its mission tempo, and offering value-added service and solutions as the global satellite industry enters a new phase of development and growth.
These were the key messages at Arianespace's 2006 Customer Seminar, which brought together representatives from international spacecraft manufacturers and satellite operators for a comprehensive update on the company's activities and capabilities.
Arianespace managers said the satellite sector is poised to enter a new period of expansion, and the company is ready to respond by offering reliable and robust launch vehicles, as well as value-added service and support for its customers.
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The Customer Seminar was held April 26-27 at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, and included a full series of briefings, visits to launch sites and payload preparation facilities, as well as a customer feedback session.
Its unofficial theme was: "Launches speak louder than words," a phrase that underscores Arianespace's ability to back up its promises with a sustained launch rate - which last year involved five Ariane 5 and three Soyuz missions that orbited a total of 11 spacecraft. This pace will continue into 2006, with six Ariane 5 missions and three Soyuz launches planned for the year.
"From our record-setting launches, to our steady launch tempo and our dual-launch capability, we think it's clear that we can offer our customers the best launch services and solutions in today's marketplace," Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said told seminar attendees at the completion of the two-day meeting.
He underscored the importance that Arianespace places in offering the best value, while also ensuring it provides the highest quality launch services that customers have come to expect.
"We are acutely sensitive to the reality that margins are tight for all of you, and that your shareholders are driving you to seek the best deal," Le Gall said. "We have worked hard to streamline our operations to make them as efficient and affordable as possible - while continuously improving the quality of our service offering. However, good quality can only come at a fair price. We must insist on this point to ensure successful launches for our customers, and I think we can all agree that the consequences of poor quality are even more costly to you."
Arianespace's integrated launch family concept – which brings its heavy-lift Ariane 5 together with the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega vehicles at Europe's Spaceport – will enable the company to meet rapidly changing market requirements, providing the capability to launch any mass to any orbit, anytime.
Ariane 5 and Soyuz allow Arianespace to offer up to 15 payload launch opportunities per year a capacity that is reinforced by Ariane 5's unmatched dual-satellite capability, as well as the possibility for interchanging payloads weighing up to 3,100 kg. between the Ariane 5 and Soyuz vehicles. Additional mission assurance is provided by the Launch Services Alliance, the pioneering venture created by Arianespace with Boeing Launch Services and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
"With our family of launchers, and our renewed dedication to service and solutions, we stand ready to prove that our customers can find no better partner than Arianespace," Le Gall said. "We pledge to remain attentive to our customers' needs at all times. Arianespace will listen, understand and innovate to meet all conditions - whether they result from consolidation, the development of new services or the introduction of new applications."
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