Finance

The importance of the launch sector to the growth of the global satellite communications industry was highlighted in 2007, as two of the three major providers suffered failures, forcing some operators to adjust their launch plans or delay some key business plans. Via Satellite takes a closer look at the industry developments that shaped business...

America’s commercial space industry holds a dominant position in the global market, but due to a number of factors, other countries are beginning to gain more market share. Many small suppliers maintain that the primary problem is the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which threatens their survival while protecting the position of larger suppliers....

[Satellite News – 06-02-08] Rival CEOs of launch service providers have not been surprised by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center’s swoop for a majority interest in International Launch Services (ILS), which the two companies announced May 29.     Khrunichev acquired the shares of ILS owned by majority shareholder Space Transport Inc., which acquired...

 

[Satellite News – 5-20-08] Khrunichev Space Center and International Launch Services (ILS) have initiated a quality initiative for Khrunichev and its subcontractors, the two organizations announced April 24.     Khrunichev manufactures Russia’s Proton rocket, and ILS market the vehicles for commercial use. Two ILS Proton missions have suffered failures since September, the latest in March,...

 

[Satellite News – 4-15-08] SES has confirmed the worst-case scenario for the AMC-14 satellite, declaring the spacecraft a total loss April 11. The loss is a blow to SES, but will create more problems for EchoStar, which had been banking on AMC-14 to help boost its high-definition (HD) strategy in the United States.     AMC-14,...

[Satellite News – 3-26-08] After being grounded for more than a year, Sea Launch looks to have recovered from its January 2007 launch failure, and “regained our stride” with the launch of DirecTV-11 March 19, said CEO Rob Peckham.     The DirecTV mission was the second launch performed by Sea Launch in 2008, and the...

[Satellite News – 3-25-08] The impact of the Proton launch failure continued to resonate through the satellite industry, with EchoStar insisting that the uncertain fate of the AMC-14 satellite will not delay the expansion of its high-definition offerings and rival launch providers ready to pick up the slack if the Proton rocket is grounded for...

[Satellite News – 3-20-08] Boeing Launch Services could take up the slack if Russia’s Proton rocket is grounded for an extended period following the March 15 failure of a mission for International Launch Services (ILS), a Boeing executive said.     Ken Heinly, president of Boeing Launch Services, said the Delta 4 could now be “an...