11/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – Arianespace, the European service operator for the launch of space vectors, published a press release on Monday 10 September welcoming a series of agreements to run the future European launcher Ariane 6, signed on the fringes of the World Satellite Business Week in Paris. A first contract, for five satellites, was signed with Eutelsat, the European satellite telecommunications organisation, and a second with CNES, the French space agency, for one satellite. Arianespace says it has secured no fewer than 59 launches, including all the launchers, and three for the future light launcher, Vega C (operational in 2019) and five for Ariane 6 (operational in 2020). Empowering access to space is at the heart of the European space strategy of 2016 and the draft regulation drawing up a space programme for the next budget cycle (see EUROPE 12035). (PH)