Ariane 5 successfully launches 4 European GPS satellites
Capitalism in space: Using its Ariane 5 rocket Arianespace yesterday successfully placed four European Galileo GPS satellites in orbit.
This is expected to be Arianespace’s last launch for 2017. The standings for the most launches in 2017 as of today:
27 United States
18 Russia
16 SpaceX
15 China
11 Arianespace
SpaceX and Russia each have two scheduled launches, while China has one. China however does not release information about all of its upcoming launches, so it might surprise us with more.
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Capitalism in space: Using its Ariane 5 rocket Arianespace yesterday successfully placed four European Galileo GPS satellites in orbit.
This is expected to be Arianespace’s last launch for 2017. The standings for the most launches in 2017 as of today:
27 United States
18 Russia
16 SpaceX
15 China
11 Arianespace
SpaceX and Russia each have two scheduled launches, while China has one. China however does not release information about all of its upcoming launches, so it might surprise us with more.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
You’re double-booking the two Soyuz launches from Kourou (Hispasat AG1 and SES-15) under both Russia and Arianespace. Arianespace manages the sales contract, but Russia performs the actual launch (much like USA-based ILS manages the sales contracts of commercial Proton vehicles but Russia performs the actual launch). Counting those two flights as Russian, the totals are 18 for Russia and 9 for Europe.
Also, you’re double-booking the SpaceX flights under the United States. The 27-flight total for USA includes the 16 SpaceX flights.
mkent: When I published my full table of launches last year, I made it clear that I was counting the Soyuz launches from French Guiana under Arianespace, not Russia. I do not double book them. It could be argued that they should go until Russia’s category, but I decided that since these launches would probably not happen without Arianespace, Arianespace should get the credit for them.
Similarly, I have made it clear recently that I am showing the U.S. total plus separating SpaceX individually, just to show how that single U.S. company is doing compared to other nations. This is not double-booking. SpaceX’s launches still rank as U.S. launches.