Arianespace, Boeing Launch Services and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Announce A New Launch Services Alliance

Arianespace, Boeing Launch Services and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Announce
A New Launch Services Alliance

Washington, D.C., July 30, 2003 - In a bold initiative, Arianespace S.A.,
Boeing Launch Services (BLS), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI)
today announced the signing of an agreement to provide a powerful new
commercial service offering that combines the strength of three leading
launch service providers to ensure on-time launches for customers around the
world.

In a striking similarity to the commercial airline industry where passengers
buy one ticket that connects the flight schedules of several partner
airlines, this new launch services alliance makes mission assurance a
reality by offering commercial customers the ability to fly on three of the
world's finest launch systems. Under this agreement, Arianespace, BLS and
MHI will create a unique service offering that allows customers to
seamlessly transition among launch platforms for maximum flexibility to
ensure on-time delivery to orbit. This tri-party alliance also preserves
each launch provider's ability to individually market and promote its own
unique platforms and capabilities to customers.

"We are providing unparalleled access to space in order to meet our
customers' rapidly changing needs," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chief Executive
Officer of Arianespace. "Together we are reinventing and redefining launch
services for the 21st Century."

"In a competitive global market for launch services you need to provide
customers with focused solutions that meet their needs," said Will Trafton,
President of Boeing Launch Services and Vice President and General Manager,
Boeing Expendable Launch Systems. "We believe that the best way to enhance
service and optimize customer satisfaction is to offer the capabilities of
three respected launch systems to achieve maximum flexibility and mission
assurance."

"Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has extensive experience in cooperative
alliances with leading companies from around the world," elaborated Junichi
Maezawa, Managing Director and General Manager of MHI Aerospace
Headquarters. "We are confident that this creative arrangement will further
enhance our customers' satisfaction."

While the benefits of this commercial launch service alliance will be
available to all current and future satellite customers, each launch
services provider will remain autonomous. Customers will remain the final
decision makers while they gain access to a much broader set of solutions
than would otherwise be available in today's market.

About Arianespace
Arianespace is the leading global commercial launch services provider
serving primarily commercial satellites launched to geostationary transfer
orbit (GTO). Created in 1980 as the world's first commercial space
transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts for the launch of
more than 250 satellite payloads. For further information, see the
Arianespace Web site at www.arianespace.com.

About Boeing Launch Services
Boeing Launch Services Inc., headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif., is
responsible for the marketing and sales of the Sea Launch and Delta family
of launch vehicles to commercial and government customers. BLS is part of
Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems which is one of the world's largest
space and defense businesses. For more information, visit
www.boeing.com/launch.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is Japan's leading aerospace company with
responsibility for the manufacture, sale and launch of the highly successful
H-IIA launch vehicle. For more information, visit www.mhi.co.jp.


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Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info

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