Orbital Recovery Taps Arianespace For Space Tug Launches
By Staff Writer | May 13, 2004
Officials from Arianespace said the company signed a contract with Orbital Recovery Ltd. to provide launch services for the ConeXpress Orbital Life Extension Vehicle (CX OLEV). The contract covers the first launch, scheduled for 2007, and four other missions beginning in 2008. It also includes options for follow-on missions. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Each of the CX OLEVs will be delivered to orbit on an Ariane 5 rocket from Arianespace’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The CC OLEV will serve as an orbital “tug boat” designed to extend the lifetime of in-orbit communications satellites by 10 years or more.