Feature story
Continuing the industry leadership: Arianespace confirms its 11th launch contract signed in 2008
December 4, 2008
Arianespace’s growing role as a launch service provider for pioneering North American telecommunications operators and in the exploration of space was underscored tonight at the company’s annual year-end event in Washington, D.C.
This traditional holiday gathering was attended by Arianespace customers, partners, industry managers, government officials and other members of the U.S. and international space communities.
|
Speaking to the event’s guests and their families, Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall confirmed the latest Arianespace Service & Solutions contract: a 2011 launch of the ViaSat-1 broadband Internet satellite, which will be lofted by Ariane 5 for California-based ViaSat. This high-capacity Ka-band spot beam satellite is ViaSat’s first, and will provide broadband Internet media services to consumers and businesses in North America
“As you may know, Arianespace has specialized in launching broadband satellites to service these markets, as we previously orbited the Anik F2, WildBlue-1 and Spaceway-3 satellites,” Le Gall said. “Arianespace is proud to get companies off the ground, literally!”
He noted that ViaSat will be the 29th satellite company for which Arianespace has launched a first spacecraft – having started with PanAmSat (now a part of Intelsat), when the pioneering company’s PAS 1 spacecraft was orbited on the maiden flight of Ariane 4 in June 1988.
“And next year, we will continue this tradition when we launch TerreStar-1 for another start-up, TerreStar,” he added.
In reviewing Arianespace’s business activities so far this year, Le Gall said the company has signed 11 new contracts since the beginning of 2008 – retaining its position as the world’s leading commercial launch services company.
In his comments, Le Gall said Arianespace is “persevering in these difficult times,” noting the company launched 9 times in 12 months between 2007 and 2008. These missions carried 17 payloads to orbit, including the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle for its successful resupply mission to the International Space Station.
“I would like to acknowledge our many friends at NASA who helped to make this year’s historic Ariane 5/Jules Verne ATV mission a reality,” he added. “I would especially like to thank my friend Administrator Mike Griffin and his team who gave every effort to make this mission succeed.”
RSS
Français |
Terms and conditions of use |
Online privacy statement
© 2012 Arianespace
