Ariane: We need new rocket
May 31, 2011
By Chris Forrester
French satellite rocket launcher Arianespace is urging Europe’s governments to make a commitment to an updated Ariane rocket in order to build a suitable next-generation system.
Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO at Arianespace, told a meeting of space journalists that the USA, China, Russia, India and Japan are all busy preparing next-generation vehicles. He added that it would take up to a dozen years or more to design and produce such a new system and that he is concerned that Europe’s position in the global launcher landscape would be eroded without a new development.