In 2010, Arianespace celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since our creation in 1980, we have focused on a single goal: guaranteeing assured access to space for all satellites, whether they help further the progress of science, contribute to the understanding of our planet, maintain the peace, or support telecommunications in our connected world.

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While conditions have sometimes been turbulent for the world’s launch services industry, Arianespace has steadfastly held true to its principles, which is demonstrated by our results: in 30 years, we have launched 277 satellites for 73 customers.

For the future, Arianespace is ready to continue its leadership role in a commercial marketplace that is increasingly competitive. Europe has given us the means to meet this ambition: a family of launchers that, from now on, will permit us to carry all of the satellites for all of our customers.

The cornerstone of this plan is our heavy-lift Ariane 5, whose record of mission successes demonstrates its reliability and in 2010, Arianespace is to take the next step with our introduction of the medium-lift Soyuz and the lightweight Vega at the Spaceport in French Guiana, which will enable us to launch satellites that until now were orbited by our competitors.

In our industry, we all know that the very best business plan is only as good as the next mission. As we prepare to build on our 30 years of success, the guarantee of our service is foremost in our strategy.

February 2010, Space Group Lecture

Recorded: Wednesday 17th February 2010

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About the speaker:

Jean-Yves Le Gall

Chairman & CEO, Arianespace

Jean-Yves Le Gall is Chairman & CEO of Arianespace, the world’s leading launch Service & Solutions company. His main mission is to define the company’s commercial strategy, and to develop and maintain a close relationship with its international clientele. He represents Arianespace in relations with European governments, space agencies and industrial partners, shareholders in the company. Jean-Yves Le Gall is also Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Starsem, the company’s European-Russian subsidiary in charge of operating and marketing the Soyuz launch vehicle. Jean-Yves Le Gall has devoted his entire career to the European space program. He has held a number of management positions concerning both programs and strategy, including with the French Ministry of Industry, Novespace, French space agency CNES, Starsem and Arianespace, which he joined in 2001.

He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and he received the Astronautics Prize from the French Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAAF) in 2001. He was recognized by the magazine Via Satellite as its 2005 Satellite Executive of the Year and he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council. He is now Chairman of the Industry Relations Committee of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and Co-Chairman of the EU-Japan Business Round Table (EJBRT). Jean-Yves Le Gall holds the honorary titles of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite. He has been awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian Federation.

This lecture event was sponsored by: