Commercial Contracts 2006 update thread

[shoogerbrugge]

Im always interested in the developments of the real space business, launching commercial satellites. Maybe its an idea to use this thread for news on new contracts.<br /><br />I'll kick off.<br /><br />Starsem received a contract the launch Canada's Radarsat-2. The launch is due for December 2006. Interesting fact is that a contract with Boeing was signed a couple of years ago to use the Delta-2. Just like the Radarsat-1 which was launched on a Delta. I guess they changed their mind. Here is the Article from Starsem themselves: link

 

[shoogerbrugge]

contract 2 of 2006 goes to ILS with a Proton.<br /><br />For the complete story look up this this link <br /><br />The headlines is that this is the 5th launch ILS is going to perform for Telesat. The Nimiq 4 spacecraft is a Eurostar E3000 model built by EADS, and is going to be launched by the Proton M/Breeze M Launch Vehicle in 2008.

 

[CalliArcale]

Ouch -- Boeing's even losing some foreign contracts? It's not been a good year for them, has it? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[nyarlathotep]

>>"Ouch -- Boeing's even losing some foreign contracts? It's not been a good year for them, has it?"<br /><br />And they'll continue to lose contracts until the morons in congress exempt commercial satellite business from ITAR.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

quite on the contrary, Boeing has been doing just fine. They received one of the largest Comsats orders in the post-bubble years. So they are making plenty of cash, just not launching ComSats with the Delta's. Always keep in mind that the real money is not in launching satellites, but in building them. And Boeing still got their share in SeaLaunch.<br /><br />But its quite some time ago that a Delta LV launched a Commercial Satellite, that much is true.

 

[yurkin]

<b>Sea Launch Begins a Sold-Out Year</b><br /><br />Long Beach, Calif., Jan. 20, 2006 -- Following a banner year in 2005 with four successful missions and nine new commercial launch contracts, Sea Launch is now preparing for the first of six missions in 2006, planned for February.<br /><br />"Like our colleagues in the launch industry, we are excited at the prospect of a promising upturn in the launch services market," Jim Maser, president of Sea Launch. In addition to the growth of new applications, such as Broadband, High Definition Television (HDTV), Direct-to-Home (DTH) and Digital Audio Radio Systems (DARS), the market for replacement satellites is also expected to remain healthy, he explained.<br /><br />Unlike its competitors, Sea Launch is not dependent on government contracts, customers or launch ranges. Launching from a floating platform in equatorial waters of the Pacific Ocean, Sea Launch is a private, commercial company that takes pride in helping other companies to build their businesses. <br /><br />http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q1/060120a_nr.html

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Contract 3 of 2006 goes to China Great Wall Industry!<br /><br />Its a commercial satellite for television and radio transmission. I couldn't find a specified weight and intented orbit of the bird. But its supposed to be lifted by the LM-3B from Xichang in 2007. The Comsat is build by the French company Alcatel Alenia Space. For more information follow this link <br /><br />Xichang still brings shivers to my spine, I still can't believe I spent two days looking for a freaking tour agency but couldn't find it. Aarrgh

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Contract 4 of 2006 goes to ILS and takes a ride on the Proton.<br /><br />The Japanese JCSAT-11 comsat will be launched in 2007 by the ProtonM/BreezeM combination. The JCSAT-11 is an A2100 model satellite built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. Here is the full article <br /><br />

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Hmm, might need some help here. According to this article ILS is supposed to have received a third contract for launching a satellite. This time its the 4th Sirius Satellite Radio ComSat. The satellite is supposed to be send to orbit "prior to december 2010". I can't find anything else on the web about this contract. The previous 3 Sirius birds were launched by Proton, so its not unlikely that the Proton will be used again. <br /><br />But basicly nothing is confirmed, but I guess this is the 3rd contract for ILS this year, great going.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

This is quite interesting from NasaSpaceFlight <br /><br />Some highlights<br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The Teal Group Corporation - an analysis of trends within the aerospace/defense market - has announced it projects 176 GEO commercial satellites, worth a staggering $28.3 billion, will be launched between 2006 and 2015.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>'However, there will be some noticeable growth in the market beginning in 2007, with closer to 20 satellites going up each year during 2007-2009,' added Caceres. 'That will put the market back to where it was in the late 1990s.'<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Just to make clear, its a Teal Group Corp reported by Nasaspaceflight. Quite interesting, but even this increased demand for GEO satellites leaves plenty of over capacity in the launcher business. Its also important to note that the 23.8 billion are mainly to be made by the satellite producers, not the launch providers. <br /><br />But it does make you wonder, even at the peak rate about 23 satellites will be launched in a single year. There are 4 commercial available Launch Vehicles, Proton, Zenit3SL, Atlas 5 and Araine 5. So even at the peak year thise vehicles will only fly 5 or 6 times a year. There isn't that much more space for additional vehicles like the Delta 4, Long March and Falcon 9.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

OK, another update, another contract, number 6 of 2006, Land Launch adds one to its order book. Land Launch is the 3-staged Zenit version as used by Sea Launch, but then from Biakonur. Here is the official link and some highlights<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The delivery-in-orbit (DIO) agreement requires a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch the AMOS-3 communications satellite to geostationary orbit from the Land Launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in the 4th Quarter of 2007.<br /><br />Built by Israel Aircraft Industries' MBT Space Division, AMOS-3 will be located at a final orbital position of 4 degrees West Longitude, where it will join existing co-located satellites AMOS-1 and AMOS-2. AMOS-3 eventually will replace AMOS-1 when it comes to its operational end-of-life, currently expected in 2008. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />This Space Review Article informs us that there will be stiff competition for this segment in the Launch Industry, the middle weight GEO payloads. Landlaunch aims to Launch 3 to 4 of these satellites from Baikonur, and they are well underway for 2007 with 3 contracts already. The question then is, does somebody have the progress report on the refurbishment of the Zenit launch pad and facilities at Baikonur.<br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[shoogerbrugge]

contract number 7 for 2006 goes to Atlas 5, here is the article <br /><br />Some highlights, the satellite will be launched for ICO North America. ICO's satellite launch, scheduled for a period beginning May 31, 2007, will be performed from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida using the Atlas V-421. It will be the 7th commercial Atlas V mission.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Contract 8 of 2006 goes to Ariane space, here is the article <br /><br />A couple of highlights.<br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Arianespace said Monday it has been chosen by electronics giant Mitsubishi to launch the SUPERBIRD-7 telecom satellite for Japanese operator Space Communications Corporation. SUPERBIRD-7 is the first commercial telecom satellite to be built in Japan, as Mitsubishi attempts to challenge U.S. and European primacy in the market.<br /><br />The satellite will be launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket during the first quarter of 2008 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Weighing about 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) at launch, the spacecraft will occupy a geostationary orbit at 144 degrees East longitude. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Another one for Sea Launch Contract 9 for 2006.<br /><br />The highlights only: <br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Sea Launch said Monday it has signed a launch contract with Intelsat to orbit the Intelsat Americas-9 spacecraft in the fourth quarter of 2007. The IA-9 spacecraft is a high-power, C-band and Ku-band satellite that will provide communications service to North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Intelsat plans to operate the satellite from an orbital location at 97 degrees west longitude.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Only a week after the previous contract, Sea Launch signed another one, contract 10 for 2006. Full article can be found here , the highlights can be found below<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Sea Launch Company has signed a firm contract with EchoStar Communications Corporation for the launch of the EchoStar XI Direct Broadcast Satellite in 2007. The sattelite is under construction by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the spacecraft is based on SS/L's 1300-series platform.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Two additional contracts have been signed by Sea Launch recently. Both are scheduled to be launched from Biakonur, using the Zenit-3SLB. This is basicly the same Zenit version as used from the Odessy platform with a Russian nosecone instead of the Boeing one. I believe the reason they had to use a Russian nose cone was because of ITAR regulations.<br /><br />Information on the Asiasat Land-Launch contract can be found here <br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>AsiaSat announced Tuesday it has signed a launch contract with Sea Launch Company to launch its AsiaSat 5 aboard a Zenit-3SLB rocket. The launch, scheduled for the second half of 2008. AsiaSat 5 is designed to replace AsiaSat 2 at the orbital location of 100.5 degrees east longitude. The satellite is a Space Systems/Loral 1300 series model with 26 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders and an estimated operational lifetime of 15 years.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Information on the other Land Launch contract recently signed is harder to find. Here is an article with additional info.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The contract for launch services provides for Measat 1R to be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, via a Zenit 3-SLB expendable launch vehicle. The launch is scheduled for September 2007. Measat -1R will provide high powered C and Ku-band capacity over Malaysia, Indonesia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. It will employ 12 C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders, each providing 36 MHz of bandwidth, over a 15 year minimum service life. M1R is currently being manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corp. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />It seems that Zenit will get another well deserved life from Biakonur with quite a number of launches scheduled for 2007 and 2008 already, all for the 3 stage version. L

 

[teije]

This story from the Arianespace website:<br /><br />link<br /><br />Berlin, May 16, 2006<br /><br />Arianespace at the Berlin Air Show-ILA 2006 <br /><br />During the Berlin Air Show-ILA 2006 from May 16 to 21, Arianespace will be reaffirming its position as the benchmark in launch service providers, with solutions that best match operator needs. <br /><br />Earning the confidence of the world's major operators<br /><br />Since January 1st of this year, <b> Arianespace has already signed seven launch contracts. </b> In 2005, Arianespace had already demonstrated its competitiveness by signing nine new launch contracts for Ariane 5 and Soyuz. <br /><br />Record order book<br /><br />At May 16, the company's order book stood at 41 satellites to be launched by Arianespace, plus 5 Starsem launches. This is the largest backlog of orders in the launch services industry. Since being founded in March 1980, Arianespace has signed a total of 274 launch contracts. <br /><br />[...]<br /><br />Seems like we missed a few on this thread. Or they kept them hush hush of course.... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Yeah I geuss we missed some. I can think of only 2 lauches that were announced and reported in this thread. It could also be that a number of the contracts are for Government payloads that weren't publicly announced. Still a pity that Arianespace doesn't provide more information about the contracts.

 

[teije]

A pity, I agree. They also continue to claim 5 more Ariane 5 launches this year, but I can't find any info on them either (except for the one next friday)<br /><br />Here is another contract announced by them though:<br /><br />link<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Paris, 18 May 2006<br /><br />Arianespace to launch W2M for Eutelsat <br /><br />Eutelsat Communications and Arianespace today announced the signature of a contract for the launch of the W2M satellite. The satellite will be launched by an Ariane 5 in the second quarter of 2008 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. <br /><br />The new contract consolidates a collaboration between the two companies which has lasted more than 22 years: the European launcher has orbited more than half of Eutelsat's fleet. The contract is the 274th won by Arianespace since being founded in March 1980. <br /><br />W2M will be built by a new industrial consortium grouping EADS Astrium and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). It will operate typically 26 transponders in Ku-band and up to 32 depending on operational modes for a designed operational lifetime of 15 years. Eutelsat's new satellite is designed to provide additional security for customers and can be deployed at a number of orbital positions used by the W satellites, in particular the 10 degrees East position. <br /><br />Like all Eutelsat satellites in the W series, W2M displays great flexibility to operate a wide range of services from television broadcasting to data networks and broadband. In addition to a fixed beam coverage taking in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, it will carry one steerable beam which can be re-oriented in orbit according to market requirements and notably towards Africa and central Asia, consolidating Eutelsat's high levels of commercial flexibility. <br /><br />Commenting on this new contract, Arianespace CEO Jea</font>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

There is one Ariane launch scheduled for early August with JCSAT-10 and Syracuse 3B. It seems improbable to me that they will launch 3 more Ariane 5 rockets in the september-december timeframe.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Orbital Science received a contract to launch two satellites recently. Although they are military satellites I think it's interesting enough to report it in this thread. TacSat 2 & TacSat 3 will be launched by Minotaur launch vehicles. The first one before the end of 2006.<br /><br />More information overhere