Fri, Sep 20, 2013
Spacecraft Will Be Operational Beginning In 2017
Arianespace and Astrium signed an initial agreement Tuesday to begin the production of 18 additional Ariane 5 ECA launchers. As part of this agreement, Arianespace has ordered from Astrium, long-lead items and the start of production activities for the 18 additional launchers. These items and the first production activities are valued at more than $542 million. Astrium and Arianespace plan to sign the full production contract for the additional launchers before the end of 2013.
These additional 18 Ariane 5s should be launched from 2017 onwards, following on from the 35 launchers ordered in 2009 (PB batch).
Present at the signing were Stéphane Israël, Arianespace Chairman and CEO and Alain Charmeau, CEO of Astrium Space Transportation.
This order takes the number of Ariane 5 launchers in production for Arianespace to 38, and guarantees the continued provision of launch services for the European operator’s customers at the Guiana Space Center through to the end of the decade. “Ariane 5 is the most reliable launcher in the world. We need to secure the future production for our customers, beyond the 20 launchers currently being built, which is why we are ordering long-lead items for a further batch of 18 launchers," said Stéphane Israël. "My thanks to Astrium and the European space industry for this exceptional launcher. My thanks also to the shareholders of Arianespace, and in particular to the French Space Agency CNES, for this vote of confidence in the future.”
“This agreement enables Astrium, which has been prime contractor for Ariane 5 since 2003, to ensure the continuity of production beyond 2017,” explained Alain Charmeau, CEO of Astrium Space Transportation. “It also guarantees the continuity of the entire industrial production chain which comprises 550 companies (of which 20% are SMEs) and 6,000 people across 12 European countries.”
More News
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]
IDENT Feature The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed beacon target from other be>[...]
Aero Linx: Pararescue Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only DoD elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full spect>[...]