Russia's Federal Space Agency (FSA) is studying possible collaboration on the European Space Agency's planned future launcher programme. The ESA has studied a range of options for an Ariane replacement and a decision will be taken by the agency's ministerial council in 2008 on what will replace the Ariane 5, if anything.
"Our next-generation launcher may be a joint venture with Russia. We are making some speculative studies," said ESA director-general Jean-Jacques Dordain, speaking last week at the official opening of the €344 million ($455 million) Soyuz launch base construction in Sinnamary county, French Guiana. "We don't know what the [new] launcher will be until we know international exploration plans and what the commercial market is likely to be." But if the commercial market is not expected to alter significantly, or exploration plans do not warrant it, Europe's fleet of Ariane 5, Soyuz 2 and new Vega launchers will be sufficient, said Dordain.
European launch provider Arianespace and Soyuz specialist Starsem will offer commercial launches from the end of 2008. Arianespace has yet to announce its first commercial Soyuz customer, but ESA intends to launch its four in-orbit validation spacecraft for the European Galileo satellite navigation system in 2008 using the Sinnamary launch complex.
Source: Flight International
