I'm rooting for Ariane! They have been successful so far.
The European space industry’s gross output is growing faster than the US’s. From 2016-2019, US gross output decreased, while the Europeans experienced growth in gross output and employment.
https://twitter.com/lionnetpierre/status/1533552816291209217?s=46&t=EUNxRJ2QLFsizCjDnIafTw
@spaceflight, something must be going right for there to be better growth. The Ariane and Vega rockets take many European payloads.
For example, the Pléiades-Neo Airbus satellites were recently launched by a pair of Vega rockets, which cost less to launch than an F9. These were rideshare missions, too, so the cost savings were even greater. The satellites created value for Europe, and the launch segment helped enable that value creation.
Ariane recently launched the James Webb Space Telescope, which no other rocket could have done. In that mission, they increased the lifespan of JWST because of the rocket's extra performance. The Ariane 5 can launch satellites that aren't suited for other rockets.
Again, the proof is in the pudding! Something is going right in Europe and Ariane with all that growth, haha
Another reason the A5 was selected is the wider fairing diameter.
Also, the A5 is competitively priced for dedicated launches with the falcon heavy. They regularly launch large satellites.
mgnv
Spaceflight 🚀
