Feature story
Jean-Yves Le Gall: Arianespace’s Service & Solutions offer will ensure the company’s long-term market leadership
Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall responds to questions from international journalists during this morning’s Arianespace press breakfast at the World Satellite Business Week conference in Paris.
September 9, 2008
In an increasingly competitive – and demanding – commercial launch services marketplace, Arianespace will continue its leadership by maintaining Ariane 5’s accelerated mission pace; providing on-time, high-quality launches for the growing customer base; and expanding its family of vehicles with the introduction of Vega and Soyuz at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Speaking to journalists during the World Satellite Business Week conference in Paris, Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said Arianespace’s 2008 performance confirms the company’s ability to meet customers’ needs – with eight new contracts signed so far this year, along with five successful Ariane 5 launches and one Soyuz mission.
“At Arianespace, we sell more than just a launch – which is vital as clients increasingly want more from the services they receive,” Le Gall explained at a press breakfast for international reporters today. “We have always maintained that quality has a price, and our ability to deliver on-time launches – mission after mission – provides the quality that is expected by the market.”
With the eight Service & Solutions contracts inked by Arianespace so far in 2008, the company’s total number of payloads signed since its creation 28 years ago has reached the 300 mark. The new payloads added to Arianespace’s order book this year include Yahsat 1A, Nilesat 3, BSat-3b, MSG 4 and Koreasat – along with three undisclosed satellites.
“These eight contracts are all firm orders, which puts us on track to meeting our goal of signing up approximately a dozen payloads in 2008,” Le Gall said.
Arianespace maintains its target of conducting seven Ariane 5 flights this year, of which five already have been completed – orbiting eight telecommunications satellites and the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle for the International Space Station. The two remaining missions of 2008 are planned for October/November and in December.
Le Gall said the industrial base is well positioned for supplying Arianespace’s expanded launcher family, ensuring a long-term, quality source of Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega vehicles. The company’s contract for a new production batch of 35 Ariane 5s is being finalized, providing vehicles that will be launched from mid 2010 through 2015. Five Soyuz launchers already have been ordered for operation from the Spaceport and negotiations are underway for 10 more, while contractual details for the initial five Vega launchers are now being completed.
- For additional information, see Arianespace's press release from the World Satellite Business Week conference.
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