ARIANESPACE and Aerospatiale have finalised an agreement with Russia's Samara to market the Soyuz and Molniya satellite launchers, under a joint venture called Starsem.
The Russian boosters will be used to place satellites weighing as much as 5,000kg, into low-Earth orbit and will complement the Ariane 4 and 5 geostationary launchers, says Arianespace. Launches will be from Plestesk in Russia and Baikonur in Kazhakstan. Other Russian launchers being marketed with Western companies include the Proton by a Lockheed Martin-led venture, the Zenit as part of the Boeing-led Sea Launch venture, and the Cosmos by both Rockwell and Daimler-Benz Aerospace.
Source: Flight International