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Feature story

Arianespace’s space license: Q&A with Michel Doubovick, Vice President – Governmental Affairs

December 28, 2010

A license issued this month by the government of France validates Arianespace’s professional, financial and moral integrity as a French-registered launch service operator. Arianespace’s first mission to be performed under terms of the license is this week’s Ariane 5 flight with the Hispasat 1E and KOREASAT 6 payloads. 

In the following questions and answers, Michel Doubovick, Arianespace’s Vice President for Governmental Affairs, provides perspective on the new license and discusses its meaning for the company’s commercial launch operations.

Question: Why did France decide to implement such a law, especially since the country has been involved in launch activity for more than 30 years, including the role of its CNES space agency in operating the Spaceport – where Ariane missions have been performed since 1979?

Answer: This law clarifies the French government’s relationship with Arianespace in terms of responsibilities, management of risk and potential involvement as the launching state in relation to third parties.  It is similar to the United States’ Commercial Space Launch Act, which was created in 1984.  The license was issued to Arianespace by France because the country is responsible for the operation of the Spaceport, and is the signatory nation to the appropriate international space laws.

Question: What does the license mean to Arianespace, and how should its issuance be viewed by its customers and the space community?

Answer: The license is a further recognition of the reliability, rigor and safety measures applied by Arianespace in its launch operations, and it comes as a high-level confirmation from the French government.  For our customers, we view this as yet another validation of Arianespace’s high quality and standards in our operational environment.  In addition to clarifying the division of responsibilities between the authorities and Arianespace, it also provides an assurance from the French government in terms of risk coverage for third parties.

Question: Does this change anything for Arianespace in conducting its missions?

Answer: This law concerns space operators legally based in France.  Therefore, non-French operators – which represent a large number of our customers who launch their payloads with Arianespace – are not subject to the authorization process.  In addition, as our procedures have been reviewed and confirmed by the French CNES space agency from the very beginning, the new law does not involve any changes to the practical aspects of our launch operations.  Arianespace works regularly with the French authorities in performing missions from the Spaceport, using launch systems developed by the European Space Agency, of which France is a member state. 

• For additional information on the French launch service operator license issued to Arianespace, see the press release.