European Space Agency (ESA) marks a milestone year

Europe's Ariane rocket laucher

Arianespace is probably best-known as the launch services operator for the European Space Agency, and thus closely associated with Ariane rocket operations from Europe's spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana.

The firm, founded in 1980 and headquartered in France, has as its principle shareholders French space agency CNES and EADS Astrium, along with space companies in 10 European countries. Arianespace is also active at the Baikonur cosmodrome via Starsem, its joint subsidiary with Russia.

But it would be a mistake to think of Arianespace as just Europe's launch operator. Its record so far of 206 Ariane launches, 26 Soyuz launches (including 24 from Baikonur) and the first launch, earlier this year, of ESA's new Vega render it responsible for orbiting more than half of the commercial satellites now flying.

Indeed, Arianespace commands 64% of the Asia-Pacific satellite launch market and is optimistic it will improve that already-dominant market share.

The company's most recent launch occurred on 15 May, when an Ariane 5 ECA hoisted Japan's JCSAT-13 and Vietnam's Vinasat-2 into geostationary orbit, from Kourou. The dual mission marked the 62nd launch of the Ariane 5, and its 48th success in a row.

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