Archive for the ‘Arianespace’ Category
Arianespace keen to widen launch window with ISRO
Arianespace, the big brother of global satellite launch providers, plans to co-market its long-term associate ISRO’s PSLV, as a future ‘back-up’ for its third rocket, the new light-lift Vega, according to Arianespace’s Chairman and CEO, Mr Jean-Yves Le Gall. Vega is due to be tested this year.
His company also wants to include ISRO’s bigger GSLV rocket in their old joint-marketing agreement once the GSLV reaches commercial stage, Mr Le Gall told Business Line. He was in Bangalore for the just-ended CII-ISRO conference — the Bengaluru Space Expo 2010.
Tie-up
The France-led European major and ISRO tied up in 1998 to jointly bid for launch contracts or for Arianespace to pass on its surplus low-end orders to PSLV. Ariane5, its workhorse vehicle, has a huge backlog and is booked for the next three years, while it also focuses on hoisting large satellites weighing 6 to10 tonnes.
Vega, Arianespace’s third vehicle, is expected to make its first flight later this year or in 2011, and is meant to put 1500-kg class Earth observation satellites in near-Earth orbits. The PSLV, which costs at least 20-30 per cent less than others, is believed to be an attractive choice worldwide. Europe and the US apart, only Russia, Japan, India and China, have commercial launch capabilities. One report estimated the global launchers market at $4 billion in 2008.
According to Mr Le Gall, the PSLV, flown nearly 20 times including for the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission, is now an established vehicle and an attractive low-cost option for satellite operators.
Orders
Asked why the agreement between ISRO and Arianespace had not fetched any orders so far, Mr Le Gall said, “ISRO has been successful on its own in marketing the PSLV and signing direct agreements with customers…. We also have some prospects and we could consider it as a back-up for Vega.”
ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix has so far won 25 contracts of small foreign satellites ranging from a few kilos to around 300 kilos, but all as secondary or ‘piggy-back’ passengers. ISRO is yet to win a solo launch order, largely due to geopolitics.
An industry observer said European satellite operators preferred a European launcher, while the US, a large-scale builder and user of commercial satellites, does not allow their launch on an Indian launcher. (The two Governments are trying to resolve this issue.)
Mr Le Gall said, “Some 20-25 satellites come up for launch every year and we sign about half of them. We signed nine this year. Competition for Arianespace today is mainly the Russian Proton launch vehicle” that is marketed by the US company, ILS, he said. With 60 per cent of the market share and three products that can meet any category of satellites, Arianespace is expected to remain the leader.
The 30-year-old company accounts for 283 or half of all commercial launches to date. It aims at 10 missions a year using Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega. (Arianespace will soon commercialise the celebrated Russian Soyuz rocket for global contracts by enhancing it to 3-tonne capability and launching it from its Guiana spaceport. Soyuz has made a record 1750 missions since 1957 from Kazakhstan and Russia.)
Cost vs quality
Launch costs rule around $20,000 a kg to orbits of 36,000 km.
Asked how Arianespace as a leader was addressing a growing need for cutting costs, Mr Le Gall said lower cost would also lower quality and his company would not compromise its success record for this; it could be possible with Vega and Soyuz.
Arianespace looked at ISRO as a partner with ties going back to the 1983 APPLE launch, Mr Le Gall said.
World’s Space-Biz 2010 Reveals India And Arianespace Are Friends In Space
World’s Space-Biz 2010 concluded at the Benagluru Space Expo in Bangalore, India. The conference was described as: “Involving very intensive deliberation that is totally dedicated to the space sector and has attracted many companies from different countries to develop their business with Indian space industry.” The exhibition provides a venue for players in the international space sector to discuss issues on access to space and commercialization, space adventure and exploration, and risk management with a special emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.
“The conference has brought great awareness for the various developing space programs of India. It has provided a platform for Indian space industry to highlight its space programs globally,” K R Murthy, Managing Director Antrix Corporation limited, said, at the valedictory session.
In addition, India and Arianespace have a strong working relationship and this will continue over the coming years, said, Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace.
“With two additional Indian spacecraft in Arianespace’s order book, this strong working relationship is set to continue over the coming years,” the Chairman said, while addressing a panel at the ongoing World Space-Biz international conference.
Arianespace has a long-established partnership with India – which includes 13 satellites orbited by the company for Indian customers since 1981, starting with launch of the Apple experimental spacecraft in 1981.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently offered a contract to Arianespace, for the launch of its GSAT 10 communication satellite with the European launcher Ariane 5.
The company will also launch INSAT 4G communications satellite for the Indian space agency.
World Space-Biz provides a venue for players in the international space sector to discuss issues such as access to space and its commercialization, space adventure, exploration and risk management.
Arianespace Preps A Six Pack And Marks A Milestone
Every launch is important, but how about sending a half a dozen up, simultaneously ?
That’s just what is occurring as preparations are underway for a milestone Soyuz flight during which Arianespace is to orbit the first six Globalstar second-generation communications satellites from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in October.
The launch campaign for this mission began on August 11 with arrival of its initial three Globalstar satellites at the Cosmodrome, and has progressed as these spacecraft undergo their checkout in clean rooms that are dedicated to commercial Soyuz missions.
All three of the second-generation Globalstar spacecraft began their preparations in the Cosmodrome’s Payload Processing Facility, which included electrical testing and radio frequency verifications. The first of them was transferred to the Hazardous Processing Facility for the loading of its propellant today, which will be followed by this satellite’s integration on a conical-shaped dispenser system that ultimately will carry all six of the mission’s payloads.
Arianespace has been contracted to perform four Soyuz launches carrying six satellites each, further building Globalstar’s constellation with these 24 second-generation spacecraft. Their deployment will secure the company’s space segment beyond 2025, ensuring continuity for its mobile satellite voice and data services that are provided to businesses, governments and consumers.
The second-generation Globalstar satellites will have a liftoff mass of approximately 700 kg. each, and are fitted with 16 transponders from C- to S-band, along with 16 receivers from L- to C-band.
Arianespace’s Globalstar missions will use the Soyuz 2 ST evolved version of Russia’s venerable medium-lift workhorse launcher, which incorporates the enlarged ST payload fairing and an updated digital flight control system. The Soyuz 2 ST is the same vehicle that Arianespace will utilize at the Spaceport in French Guiana, operating side-by-side with its heavyweight Ariane 5.
For the upcoming Soyuz 2 ST launches, the six Globalstar spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space, will be stacked in two levels on the conical-shaped dispenser. Once loaded with the satellites, this EADS Astrium-produced dispenser is to be mated atop the Fregat upper stage, which will make three burns after it is delivered to low-Earth orbit by the Soyuz launcher. The trio of burns will enable Fregat to inject the satellite payloads into a 920-km. circular orbit, inclined 52 deg.
The dispenser is designed to accommodate two of the six satellites on its upper section, with their release occurring at 98.6 minutes into the flight. The other four payloads are to be installed on the dispenser’s lower section and will be separated simultaneously 1.67 minutes later, completing the mission’s deployment sequence.
Soyuz launchers have played a key role in the creation of Globalstar’s satellite constellation. Earlier Soyuz versions were used in eight missions conducted from 1999 to 2007 to orbit a total of 32 first-generation Globalstar spacecraft. These flights were performed under the direction of Arianespace’s Starsem affiliate, with each mission carrying four of the 450-kg. first-generation satellites.