Commercial Launch Providers Looking Ahead To Busier 2009

摘要

None of the commercial launch service providers reached their planned launch rate goals in 2008, but all forecast an accelerated rhythm this year. The three companies faced different issues that kept them from achieving their goals. But they all shared in the generally improving launch price market with prices rising in 2008 perhaps in part due to the inability of the three principal launch service suppliers to maintain high launch rates. The three companies - Ari-anespace of Europe, International Launch Services (ILS) of Re-ston, Va., and Sea Launch Co. of Long Beach, Calif. - plan a total of 21 to 22 launches in 2009. To this number will be added the Russian Federal government launches that are handled by die same Proton manufacturing team that ILS uses, but are not booked through ILS. Evry, France-based Ariane-space had hoped to break its 2007 record of six Ariane 5 campaigns on the way to its goal of conducting eight launches per year starting in 2009. The eight-per-year rate still is expected in 2009, but in 2008 the company was able to launch just six times.