Failures, Full Manifests: Place Further Strain On Launch Services Industry

摘要

The September failure of an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton rocket is the latest incident that has led to a tightening of capacity in the launch services market. The Proton loss, along with a January Sea Launch failure, have temporarily left satellite operators with few launch options, and some operators have felt compelled to secure access to space with long-term deals, leaving other operators even fewer options. The potential emergence of low-cost vehicles could add yet another dimension to a market that is seeing its competitive dynamics change rapidly.