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Arianespace, Boeing, Mitsubishi To Form Launch Alliance

By Staff Writer | July 10, 2003

      France’s Arianespace, U.S.-based Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries [PNK: MHVYF.PK] expect to complete a satellite launch alliance by the third quarter, according to Suzanne Chambers, Arianespace director of external affairs. Under the agreement being worked out, each company would offer its commercial customers the option of using one of the other companies as a backup in case of a technical problem with the primary launch vehicle. The launch vehicles that are covered by this agreement are the Ariane 5, the Zenit rocket of Boeing’s Sea Launch venture, and the Mitsubishi H2A. This alliance is only for commercial, not government, customers, Chambers said.