Observations reveal that since being founded in 1980 Arianespace has signed over 300 launch Service & Solutions contracts, and launched 265 satellites for 70 customers, of which more than half of all commercial satellites are now in service worldwide. The company continued its sustained launch rate in 2008, with one Soyuz and six Ariane 5 launches, boosting more than 70 metric tons of payload into orbit. 2008 - ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Service Photo Optique Video du CSG
With 28 successful consecutive launches that included; Ariane 5 launched the Jules Verne ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) to the International Space Station last year; and launched 10 geostationary satellites, with half of all those launched worldwide. In just 12 months, from August 2007 to August 2008, Arianespace carried out nine Ariane 5 launches. The company logged approximately 950 million euros in consolidated sales for the year, and it anticipated to achieve break-even or better for the sixth consecutive year. However, the global financial crisis limited the number of new contracts available in 2008. Only 18 new launch contracts were signed last year, versus 25 in 2007, as launch capacity exceeded market demand. The tight credit situation had varying effects. Several new operators froze their projects, but the largest operators were unaffected, and they are pursuing their development, which underpins a solid replacement market. Photo Jules Verna ESA Multimedia
Arianespace also won 13 contracts out of a total of 18 open to competition, and was chosen to launch the entire Galileo constellation. As of January 1, 2009, Arianespace had a record backlog of orders, including 27 geostationary satellites, plus launches into other orbits: eight by Ariane 5 and seven by Soyuz. These figures do not include Galileo launches.
Regarding bookings for this year, Arianespace just announced that it has signed a contract with the international satellite operator Intelsat, for the launch of one satellite, with the option to launch four more satellites between 2011 and 2015. Commenting on this latest contract, Arianespace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Yves Le Gall said: "We are very proud to have launched 48 satellites for Intelsat in the last three decades, and we are extremely honored to continue this partnership with the contract signed today. Through this new contract, Arianespace clearly shows its ability to offer Intelsat custom-tailored launch services and solutions that meet its need for flexibility."
Six to eight Ariane 5 launches are also slated for this year, including the Herschel-Planck and Terrestar-1 missions. In addition, Soyuz will be launched for the first time from the Guiana Space Center, enabling Arianespace to carry out eight Soyuz missions by the end of 2010, from either French Guiana or Baikonur. The development of the Vega light launcher will be completed in 2009, leading to a commercial service entry in 2010.
Another noteworthy factor is that the average weight of satellites decreased. Out of the 13 contracts signed by Arianespace in 2008, seven were for "3 ton" class satellites, and there was a limited number of satellites in the "6 ton" class.
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