Arianespace will remain a launch service provider of choice in North America as Ariane 5 evolves to meet market requirements for payload capacity and price, according to Arianespace, Inc. President Clayton Mowry.
In his first major speech since joining Arianespace's U.S. operation last August, Mowry said that Ariane 5 gives Arianespace a major competitive advantage over the other launch vehicles currently in operation, as well as those in development.
Ariane 5 has the flexibility to handle a full range of spacecraft, and Arianespace can pair up satellites for cost-efficient dual missions," he told an October 17 meeting of the Washington Space Business Roundtable. "With its payload capacity of up to 12,000 kg., Ariane 5 will be able to carry two of the 6-metric-ton-class satellites now being ordered by operators for their next generation of telecommunications platforms."
He noted that Ariane 5 already has carried a variety of satellite types built by international spacecraft manufacturers, including Boeing Satellite Systems' 702 and 376 series, the Astrium Eurostar 2000, Lockheed Martin's A2100, the Alcatel Spacebus 3000 and Orbital Science's Star 1.
The Washington, D.C.-based Arianespace, Inc. is a key element of Arianespace's international presence. It provides sales, marketing, and technical support to Arianespace's North American customers, as well as government affairs/communications support to the company. Mowry noted that approximately one-fourth of the more than 240 launch services contracts signed by Arianespace since its creation in 1980 are with U.S. operators, and at least half of the contracts involve U.S.-built spacecraft.
Mowry is no stranger to Washington or the satellite industry. Prior to joining Arianespace, he served for six years as executive director of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) - the non-profit alliance of U.S. satellite companies and affiliated organizations. Previously, he worked as a satellite/launch industry analyst and senior international trade specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and was the International Trade Administration representative to the 1992-94 U.S./Russia and U.S./China commercial launch services negotiations. He also served on personal staffs of legislators in the U.S. Congress.
"I am very excited about working for Arianespace, which I consider to be the 'gold standard' in commercial launch services companies," Mowry said. "In my opinion, a 'gold standard' company is one that meets a few simple criteria: it has vision, it offers the highest quality service, it responds to the market, and it is a leader in its business sector. Arianespace meets all these criteria."
Mowry noted that Arianespace's next launch - Flight 146 in November - will be another "all American" mission, carrying the Boeing-built DIRECTV-4S satellite for California-based DIRECTV.
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Arianespace, Inc.'s Clayton Mowry: "I Am Working For The 'Gold Standard' Of Launch Companies"
