A New Era in Kourou – Industry Gets Ready for Vega and Soyuz

KOUROU 2/26/04 3:17 PM Page 64

Launchers A New Era in Kourou – Industry Gets Ready for Vega and Soyuz

Kourou has been in the doldrums. With the current slump in satellite launch clients, local space industry has shifted into a lower gear for the time being – but around the corner the grass should be greener. The industrial contractors at the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) are preparing to welcome Vega and Soyuz, which will boost the competitiveness of Europe’s Spaceport…..…

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New Era in Kourou

Anne Gercke & Fernando Doblas "Politicians are the strategists and we the tacticians", encouraged the reorganisation of the Kourou Office, ESA Directorate of Launchers, says Jean-François Dairon, Alcatel Space’s European launcher sector and gave the representative in French Guiana. His green light for launching Soyuz from CSG Kourou, French Guiana company has been among Kourou’s pioneers and to the starting of ESA’s Future when exploiting ELA 1, the launch zone Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP). dedicated to the first versions of Ariane, The legal and financial basis required to and has been adapting to the high and low consolidate Europe’s launcher sector was tides of Europe’s space endeavours over thereby laid. the last decades. While twelve Ariane Since then, Kourou has been given a new launchers departed from Kourou in 2003, dynamism as it prepares for the creation of there were only four lift-offs last year. a fleet of launchers. In addition to Soyuz, Currently, Europe’s Spaceport is experiencing there will be ESA’s new small launcher the sharp downturn in the global market, Vega to complement Ariane-5, the three exacerbated by the resulting cut-throat vehicles together providing Arianespace pricing in the launcher sector, which is also with the utmost degree of flexibility. causing major problems for Ariane’s Europe’s Spaceport will therefore soon be competitors. offering launch services for all sizes of Taking note of this downward trend, payloads, for all types of missions, to any Europe’s Ministers responsible for space kind of destination and, most importantly, affairs reacted quickly. At the ESA Council with an attractive pricing structure. "We wait Meeting at Ministerial Level in May 2003, impatiently for Vega and Soyuz", stresses Claude they committed the financial resources Lugand, head of the local office of the needed to qualify the Ariane-5 ECA company Clemessy, because he knows that launcher and to kick-off an ambitious in the meantime stream-lining is on the programme sustaining Europe’s Guaranteed agenda. Access to Space (EGAS). Moreover, they

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Launchers

A Motor of Kourou’s Past, Present and Future characterised by consortia, in which a for the competitiveness of Europe’s prime contractor usually coordinates a launcher industry. The launch campaigns When in 2001 the French national space certain workload with its European at Kourou are renowned for providing agency CNES changed its contractual partners. This type of relationship not only outstanding customer service. The relations with its service providers on-site, ensures that all parties involved benefit companies operate around the clock if the industrial contractors present at the from collaboration, but also respects ESA’s necessary and simultaneously assure top- launch base gained significant responsi- geographical-return requirement, an level quality. The latter aspect is of bilities. Still, industrial representatives instrument that reflects the financial particular importance as the maintenance expect the forthcoming reorganisation of contributions from each of the Agency’s and exploitation needs of a launch base CSG to transfer even more responsibilities Member States, but also the fact that translate into zero tolerance of failures. to industry in order to provide it with room Europe is a single coordinated actor in What can sometimes seem like difficult for manoeuvre to manage the demand for space. working conditions actually foster real additional cost reduction. At CSG, the often long-standing team spirit. Passion and enthusiasm have The arrival of Vega and Soyuz coincides partnerships are well appreciated. They certainly helped to create credibility for with the organisational redefinition of function as a security net and ensure the Europe’s competence and a feeling of trust Europe’s Spaceport. Hence, Kourou’s participation of small- and medium-sized on the part of Arianespace’s clients. There industrialists are reluctant to let the cat out enterprises – they even mean survival is no doubt about all actors involved being of the bag when asked about their where withdrawal would be the result committed to maintaining these values in positioning vis-à-vis forthcoming calls for elsewhere. Furthermore, the prime the future. Companies such as Vitrociset, proposals, not least because they do not contractors and subcontractors alike profit which according to Paolo Cavallini, head want to add to the uncertainties. "We need to from the spillover effects of cooperation at of the local branch of the Italian enterprise, develop a maximum of synergies," says Yann CSG. Apart from technological and aims to diversify its current activities due Chevillon, head of EADS Space Transpor- multicultural exchange, mutually beneficial to the arrival of Vega, are aware of the tation in Kourou, and Jean-François relations can be exploited for further value of cooperation. "We want to play a major Dairon adds, "everybody will benefit so we should projects far beyond the launch base. The role without neglecting synergies with others…" he not provoke unrest among our partners." At present, manner of economic cooperation at comments, "…and we hope that Vega and Soyuz industrial cooperation at the launch base is Europe’s Spaceport is unique and crucial will raise all our games a bit."

Principals – Members of the French Guiana Space and Industrial Community (CISG)

EADS ST

SUPPLIERS – non-members of CISG

ALCATEL SPACE AXIMA CONTRACTING GTD

APAVE ETCA INSA (ESQS)

CEGELEC

CLEMESSY APCO TECHNOLOGIES SA ISQ (ESQS) CS COMMUNICATION ET SYSTEME

CTM CONSEIL

EGTM MAN SPATIAL GUYANE ROVSING

ENDEL TÜV (ESQS)

ESPACENET RMT

INTESPACE PEYRANI

SECURIGUYANE SERCO VITROCISET

SNPE

SODEXHO

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New Era in Kourou

Raising the Game of Kourou’s Space Industry involved in maintaining and operating the the boosters of Ariane. Having received the satellite-preparation complex, as well as engines from Colleferro in Italy, the For Jean-Pierre Cournède, local represen- providing mechanical engineering and company will charge them with solid tative of the French company ENDEL, the public-relations services. There is no propellant. Afterwards, Vega will be challenge of a transition period overlap- denying the fact that the possibility of transferred to the Italian-French company ping with the arrival of Soyuz and Vega enlarging the scope and range of activities Europropulsion, which will add the nozzle translates into a chance to reposition as an is very promising, and all the more so if and igniter. "At Regulus the mindset has already industrialist. The companies at CSG there is a snowball effect from Vega to changed", says Luciano Gamba, head of the currently predefine their roles according to Soyuz. "If we gain the confidence of the possible company in French Guiana. Smiling, he their core business, national belonging, clients for Vega, our participation in the Soyuz project adds: "our major business is Ariane-5, but our staff are relevance of the project and the overall would be more likely", says Antonio De Pace of highly motivated to go beyond ‘mono-production’. business strategy. Certainly, chances differ. the company Peyrani Guyane. Although Imagine, if we can adapt our working tools to two Companies like Alcatel Space, which the Italian firm has considerable different engines, we can enter a new production cycle!" provide the launch base’s telecom- motivation to participate in Vega due to munications network, are able to offer this Italy’s pre-eminent role in the programme, Compared to Vega, Soyuz leaves a larger kind of service irrespective of the launcher it is also aware of the benefits of Soyuz at margin for manoeuvre, industrially itself. Their window of opportunity is to CSG. "Maybe our role could be stronger for Vega than speaking, due to the need to build a new enlarge the scope of their penetration. In for Soyuz…" De Pace adds, "…but we are very launch zone, thereby making participation contrast, activities that are closely linked to happy about the Russian arrival because there are more attractive. Kourou’s industry counts the launcher entail the inclusion of new plenty of business opportunities concerning installations." on exploiting past experiences in technologies, which requires investment collaborating with Russia, whether on and sophisticated specialisation. Here, the Amongst the various industrial players, space-related or civil-construction projects. prospect is to focus on or specialise in one Regulus and Europropulsion welcome the For example, Clemessy has already or even both of the new arrivals. competition. As contractor for the P-80 profited from a Euro-Russian partnership engine, the first stage of Vega, Regulus, a when building the clean rooms of the "Particularly, small- and medium-sized enterprises joint venture by the Italian company AVIO satellite-integration building for Soyuz at will profit from current developments", believes and the French company SNPE, is at the Baïkonur, and Peyrani intends to make use Pascal Sassot, local representative of core of Vega’s lift-off from Kourou and at of its Russian relations stemming from a APCO Technologies SA, a Swiss company the same time testing new technology for civil-construction project near Moscow.

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However, such connections are not the complex and the fluids systems, manage- only cards in play. ENDEL and MAN ment of technical modifications to the Spatial Guyane have also accumulated launch facilities, and the provision of valuable experience. The French company, communication services. Cegelec’s Bernard for example, has been dealing for 37 years Assié is convinced it is the right approach with tariff and non-tariff barriers in French for his company, saying that: "Due to Guiana in the transport and logistics sector. diversification, we are flexible, adaptable and The German subsidiary of MAN Technology autonomous." maintains the Ariane-4 and 5 launch During a launch campaign, demand for facilities, essential parts of which, such as manpower increases significantly. For the launcher table and the launcher several weeks CSG resembles an anthill, integration building, had originally been but once the launch has taken place the designed and constructed by its parent companies face a rapid decline in company. The Ariane-5 prime contractor activities. "A major challenge is the alternation of EADS Space Transportation too is already service needs," says Paolo Cavallini of preparing to play an active role in setting Vitrociset. "There is a peak of work, but afterwards up the Soyuz programme at CSG, and is also fewer people are needed. You can let a certain number interested in another promising aspect of the go, but you cannot go below a certain limit because vehicle’s arrival, which is technology transfer. you will need them for the next campaign." Understandably, this becomes a real challenge whilst belt-tightening is also on Strategic Vision and Local Approaches the agenda. However, diversification has helped some companies to overcome this Doing business at CSG is important not hurdle. Their workforces have been trained only for financial and economic reasons, so that each employee can be assigned to but also due to the image of progress and more than one activity. In times of innovation associated with space activities, operational inactivity, these companies can which has marketing and public-relations then engage, for example, in providing Between Verve and Reality benefits. Individually challenged by the maintenance services. new dynamics in Kourou, companies Last but not least, business opportunities Two of the factors contributing to the situated on the launch base are responding in French Guiana have helped a few competitive advantage of Europe’s Space- with a variety of strategic approaches in companies whose activities are not port are certainly the enthusiastic dedication order to maintain and improve their exclusively space-related to expand into of its employees and the clear identifi- position vis-à-vis their competitors. the local market. "The investment into the country cation of the size and value of their Some concentrate on the fulfilment of itself is very important", explains Jean-Pierre contribution. The successful launch of an geographical return. They either collaborate Cournède of Endel. "We will concentrate on the Ariane-5 and the smile on the face of a locally by involving small firms such as potential of French Guiana. We are already involved in satisfied client who has just received the Rovsing, which qualifies for the Danish projects at Rochambeau airport and in St. Laurent du first tracking signal from their satellite return, or they Europeanise the holding Maroni and…", he adds with a wink "…if there about forty minutes after lift-off tells the company and create autonomous branches is a problem at CSG you have to know which way to story! This makes it all the more difficult in other ESA Member States. Clemessy, a turn. That is why we decided to externalise and respond to reduce costs by reducing staff, which French company, for example, has been to demand beyond the launch base." In contrast, means shifting staff from the space to the operating in French Guiana for more than there are companies whose potential civil sector or even back home to head- 35 years and it introduced RMT Industrie- transcends the frontiers of French Guiana, quarters is the least painful option in the und Elektrotechnik GmbH, a German firm but they are constrained by local trade short term. that is part of the same holding company, barriers. Antonio De Pace, for example, Today, managers dedicate a lot of into the industrial landscape at CSG. would not mind integrating the Brazilian their time to motivating their personnel. Others, like Cegelec, concentrate on branch of Peyrani with the one in French Stabilising what has been achieved and diversification. Instead of focussing on one Guiana. Inter-regional coordination would building confidence is currently the core business, the French company strives benefit both sides, especially in terms of watchword that keeps EADS Space to offer a range of different services. tapping the Brazilian labour market but, he Transportation ahead. "We need to listen, to be Today, it is working in several domains at says, shrugging his shoulders, "Brazil is not a available for discussions, and to exchange ideas. We the launch base, including operation and member of the European Union. We would have too need to explain the reality, its past, present and future", maintenance of the satellite-preparation many difficulties in obtaining working permits." says Yann Chevillon who is proud to

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New Era in Kourou

Rosier Prospects are taking place in countries known for their low-cost manufacturing. The new Everyone at CSG agrees that Ariane will launcher fleet will also provide Europe continue to be the main workhorse, but the with a valuable enhancement of its image. arrival of Vega and Soyuz will certainly Not only will it contribute to conveying the complement it and help to stabilise message that Europe is a unique actor in activities at Europe’s Spaceport. The latter, space, but it will also strengthen Europe’s which provides Europe’s only guarantee of relations with Russia to an extent where independent access to space, will thereby eastwards expansion of the Union becomes become more resistant to global downturns a strategic reality. and other future crises. Two particular In the meantime, Europe’s Spaceport is aspects will play an important role in the about to undergo a metamorphosis, and future of the launch base, which will no Kourou’s industrialists are optimistic. Even longer be dependent on a single launcher. if today’s markets are stagnating, even if Firstly, Arianespace will become more clarifications are still needed, the political flexible in offering launch services to a decisions that have been taken by Europe’s broad range of satellite clients, including Ministers have initiated a process of serving a niche market with Vega. change that, once completed, will ultimately Secondly, technological progress will lift add value to the activities at CSG. Kourou into a new era. While Vega will validate new solid- propulsion technologies for Ariane-5, Acknowledgement Soyuz is the key to learning more about the production techniques that have already This article is based on a series of resulted in over 1600 successful launches. interviews with space-industry represen- The outcome will be a pool of reusable and tatives based at Europe’s Spaceport in new technologies that will allow Europe to Kourou, French Guiana. We would like to manage an enthusiastic team that is respond dynamically to an as yet unknown thank Alcatel Space, APCO Technologies emotionally attached to Ariane-5. future environment. On the one hand, it SA, Cegelec, Clemessy, EADS Space Vitrociset agrees: "Our wealth is our staff. There will boost the development of the Ariane Transportation, Endel, MAN Spatial are ambitious people among us and we need to create programme, while on the other it will Guyane, Peyrani, Regulus, RMT Industrie- development opportunities for them." The latter reinforce and broaden ESA’s cooperation und Elektrotechnik GmbH, Rovsing and aspect has already been tackled at with its international partners. It should Vitrociset for their kind cooperation. Clemessy, which provides internal also make it possible to benefit that bit Regrettably, it has not been possible in this education opportunities for its staff in sooner from recovering satellite markets. short article to refer to all of the companies order to encourage them to make an extra Today, there is no denying the fact that that make up the CSG industrial landscape. personal effort. This creates a concrete Soyuz is the basis on which to open a gate- s opportunity for ambitious staff members to way to the east, where rapid developments benefit from the transfer of know-how and from personal development. For some companies, the arrival of Vega Council Decides…….. and Soyuz at CSG will logically lead to an increase in personnel, but for others not. At the latest meeting of the ESA Council in Paris on 5 February, the Agency’s Member States agreed to release Nevertheless, their arrival will be the funds needed to put Ariane-5 back on track and actively prepare the development of future launchers. extremely valuable for Kourou’s local Moreover, cooperation with Russia in the field of launchers is now a reality through an Agreement that economy also, which is only too well aware provides the framework for the ‘Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre’ programme - with Soyuz launchers of the yo-yo effect stemming from the rise operated by Arianespace as of 2006 - and joint activities in the field of future launchers. and fall in the number of space missions being launched, and in the numbers of These decisions taken unanimously by the ESA Member States consolidate, now and for the longer term, associated Ariane ‘tourists’ also. "Here people Europe’s access to space, enhancing its ability to meet the needs of its citizens. Europe can count on a strong are uncertain about their future", concludes Jean- and stable launcher sector while it works towards a new generation of launchers. The decisions also mean that François Dairon, "but a fleet of launchers will boost its commercial launch operator, Arianespace, is now equipped to sustain Europe’s guaranteed access to space team spirit and raise morale at the base." while competing on the global launch-service market.