Arianespace has been the world's leading launch services company for more than 30 years, accounting for over half of all launches of commercial satellites. With four successful launches since the beginning of the year, Arianespace continues to confirm its world leadership. Arianespace is of course on hand at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2014, from May 20 to 25, in Hall 4 alongside the Space Pavilion.

Stéphane Israël, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, will participate in the roundtable discussion on “The future of launcher business,” scheduled for Thursday, May 22 at 1:30 pm in the Space Pavilion.

Arianespace and Germany

Germany has been one of Arianespace’s key partners since the beginning of the Ariane program. The country’s contribution to Ariane 5 launcher production is mainly provided by the German space agency DLR, and Germany’s two shareholders in Arianespace, Astrium GmbH, part of Airbus Defence and Space, and MT Aerospace AG, in which the company OHB is the majority shareholder.

The DLR coordinates operations by design offices, as well as operation of the rocket engine test stands at Lampoldshausen. Astrium GmbH manufactures and integrates the storable propellant upper stage (EPS) and the cryogenic upper stage (ESCA) in Bremen, and makes various engine components in Ottobrunn. MT Aerospace AG manufactures the solid booster motor casings and various structures (ESCA tanks and forward skirt on the cryogenic main stage) in Augsburg.

Astrium GmbH, MT Aerospace AG, Cegelec GmbH, Kayser-Threde and RMT also take charge of various launch infrastructure operations at the Guiana Space Center.

“Germany is a key Arianespace partner and the second largest contributor to the Ariane program,” said Stéphane Israël, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace. “We fully recognize the importance of ESA member-states’ support for our business, and especially the support of Germany and the DLR space agency. I would like to pay tribute to these partners at the ILA air show, where Arianespace will be a major participant. I would also like to thank our Germany shareholders, Astrium GmbH and MT Aerospace AG, for their excellent collaboration and their unflagging support for Arianespace.”

The global standard in launch services

Since being created, Arianespace has signed over 410 launch contracts with 90 different customers. It has performed 217 Ariane launches, including 59 successful launches in a row of Ariane 5 to date. The company has also expanded its launch capabilities from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana by adding the Soyuz and Vega launchers, which have had a flawless track record here to date: seven Soyuz missions, in addition to the 26 carried out by Starsem in Baikonur, and three Vega missions.  

Record order book

Building on its complete family of launchers and the proven reliability and availability of its launch services, Arianespace wins more than half of the commercial launch contracts that come up for bid in the open international market every year. This has given Arianespace a record order book, equal to more than three years of operations: 20 Ariane 5 missions with 34 satellites to be launched into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), plus three dedicated missions, along with eight Soyuz launches and nine Vega launches. Arianespace’s order book is now worth more than 4 billion euros, from 27 customers.

Top priority: meeting customer requirements

Arianespace implemented several projects in 2013 to adapt its range of launchers and services to address customer requirements:

• increased payload volume under the Ariane 5ECA fairing, to keep pace with the growing size of geostationary telecommunications satellites;
• improved combined operational planning for the three launch systems, Ariane, Soyuz and Vega, in particular to reduce the time between two missions by different launchers;
• construction of a New Filling Hall (NBR), dedicated to propellant loading operations for the Soyuz upper stage, Fregat; this will free another loading facility for use by Arianespace customers.

Confidence in the future: ensuring the continuity of the production system and gearing up for the next-generation Ariane launcher

Arianespace now has a total of 65 launch vehicles on order (36 Ariane 5, 13 Vega and 16 Soyuz), clearly reflecting its confidence in the future. This confidence was also expressed via the signature of procurement contracts over the last six months for all three launchers in its family. Through these contracts, Arianespace covers the launch needs of its government and commercial customers until 2019.

Arianespace also plays an active role in building foundations for the future by informing the European Space Agency about its customers’ expectations, and by sharing its unrivaled operating expertise to ensure the success of the next generation, with Ariane 5 ME scheduled to enter service as from 2018 and Ariane 6 as from 2021.

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world’s leading satellite launch company, providing innovation to its customers since 1980. Backed by 21 shareholders and the European Space Agency, the company offers an international workforce renowned for a culture of commitment and excellence. As of May 19 2014, 217 Ariane launches, 33 Soyuz launches (7 at the Guiana Space Centre and 26 at Baikonur with Starsem) and three Vega launches have been performed. The company has a backlog of 19 Ariane 5, 8 Soyuz and 9 Vega launches, equaling three years of business.