Before the most recent launch, the consortium had booked a total of 211 satellite orders with a backlog of 40 awaiting liftoff. Global competition comes from the Russians, Japanese, Chinese and most of all the Americans. The slender Ariane 4 rocket is to be phased out by mid-2003, replaced by the Ariane 5 with the torpedo shape of a thick cigar with two thin panatellas stuck on the sides. The new craft is expected to blast off eight times in 2004, according to Scotti. Past practice has meant satellites have had to be matched unevenly according to a 6.9-tonpayload, meaning any holdup with one stops progress on down the line.
Satellite manufacturers sweat under the gun to get their creations ready for orbit.
Hughes Electronic Corp. Other system bugs have included thruster and solar panel kinks. Once a glitch is discovered the whole product line has to be examined, a pricey affair not only for the satellite builders but for Arianespace, which pays fixed costs and storage. It costs a lot to store a rocket. Despite omnipresent scheduling headaches, business promises to remain brisk for Arianespace, with at least five launches stemming from Brazil and Argentina alone in the short term. The launches will be bid on the market, but so far Embratel has sent all its satellites up on Ariane craft, Pulcherio noted.