Le Gall states that the nine launch systems available today – with a 10th set to enter the market this year – are sufficient for addressing demand, as the launch vehicles combined can accommodate more than 40 commercial satellites per year. “Arianespace, for its part, has also done its utmost to assure quality and bolster capacity in the launch market, creating the kind of stability that operators need,” writes Le Gall. “We listened to our customers and we made important investments in launch capabilities and reliability.”
Together with the European Space Agency, Arianespace has spent more than $400 million to bring the Soyuz vehicle to French Guiana. In addition, Arianespace has invested in upgrades to the Spaceport’s facilities to ensure they are prepared to meet demand for up to eight heavy-lift Ariane 5 missions annually. Responding to a concern that launch prices have risen over the past five years, Le Gall states that “cheap launches” do not spur demand for new satellites – and reiterates that low prices lead to “repeated launch failures and higher insurance rates.” You can read Jean-Yves Le Gall’s editorial in full at the Space News website.