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Change of orbit Arianespace. The takeover of the world’s leading satellite launchers Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL) should be confirmed Wednesday, June 10 at an interdepartmental meeting led by Matignon, to an official announcement expected at the opening of the Paris Air Show, Monday, June 15
ASL take over the 34% held by the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), previously the largest shareholder and will own 75% of the company’s capital will market and ensure launches Ariane rockets, Soyuz and Vega at the site of Kourou in French Guiana. The deal is estimated between 100 and 200 million euros according to Les Echos .
It will, however, require several months of discussions between the Agency for State Shareholdings (EPAs ) and the two manufacturers to reach an agreement. Especially at the beginning, it was even considered a negative valuation. The rise in the dollar against the euro was instrumental in allowing to raise the appreciation. The agreement is then possible with the commitment to maintain employment at Arianespace.
Redial space industry
This passage from public to private comes a year after the announcement on the steps of the Elysee redial the space industry. It concludes a process led at a run by Europeans to counter the offensive of the American SpaceX.
It all started in December 2013, when the American rocket Falcon managed to put a satellite in orbit telecommunications. This success then resounded like a thunderclap in space heaven. Not only Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, had succeeded in shaking the European-Russian duopoly Ariane – Proton from scratch. But he broke the prices by offering fares launches 30% cheaper than its competitors, bringing them to $ 60 million (€ 52.7 million). His secret, a unified generation on one site where the sheet from one side to rocket out of the other. Its asset, trust NASA which does not hesitate to pass it launch agreements and funding.
By playing on prices, the new American actor also upset the rules of the game. No more to advance the reliability of Ariane launches to defend high prices now, the shots must be cheap and competitive. We must therefore increase efficiency and streamline the industrial sector very scattered in Europe.
Paradigm Shift
This paradigm shift so caused turbulence in the space world European, revealing differences between each, as if the loss of landmarks had thrown all stakeholders. The French, German and European agencies responsible for designing the Ariane rockets were not necessarily agree with each other and industry could only be found in their proposals. Even customers that are the satellite operators get mixed to evoke their preference launcher …
In this general hubbub, Airbus and Safran have created a stir in spring 2014. Together they offer Ariane 6 rocket project “unsolicited” to replace the launcher decided by the European Space Agency (ESA) and CNES. For them, the desired configuration by these agencies for the successor of Ariane 5 is not adapted to the new competition. Both industrial outline a new cheaper and more competitive version could compete with the SpaceX rocket. They accompany their requests for industrial reorganization in depth, to reduce costs. This change of economic model is inseparable from the rocket project. It involves the transfer of jurisdiction or public participation to the private
Read also:. Ariane 6 launcher under pressure
Very quickly, in June 2014 the Elysee supports the principle of this reorganization: Industrial control of the sector and risk taking, CNES long-term vision. In this perspective, ASL supports the missing links: the design of the launchers, a mission devolved to agencies since the start of the space adventure and launches by Arianespace, whose main shareholder was until now CNES <. / p>
First launch of Ariane 6 2020
Since then, Airbus and Safran began merging their activities and harmonized statutes of 8000 employees concerned. The objective is to achieve fall. For that parity is respected, each with 50% of the joint venture (ASL), Safran has made 800 million euros.
Arianespace Taking control should not lead to integration . The hypothesis of transforming the company into commercial division was discarded. The company will remain independent, will keep its headquarters in Evry and retain his job. Arianespace will continue the competitiveness plan undertaken to compensate for price cuts needed face SpaceX. But this will not prevent reorganizations including Kourou. In the autumn, the new entity will be operational ASL with the aim first Ariane launch in 2020 6.
Meanwhile, SpaceX pushes his advantage. Latest advance, the market entry of the US military launches until the hands of Boeing and Lockheed
Read also:. SpaceX benefits of NASA’s commands
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