Arianespace CEO talks James Webb launch
On this\xa0week\u2019s episode of Space Connect podcast,\xa0host Bella Richards meets St\xe9phane Isra\xebl, who is the CEO of Europe's largest launch provider, Arianespace\xa0\u2013\xa0which is also the company that launched the iconic James Webb Telescope into space.\xa0
The duo discusses the most anticipated launch of the decade that occurred on Christmas Day in 2021, and what it looked like for the Arianespace team, along with the trials and errors the company encountered over the years before blast-off.
The two also chat about the recent Ukraine-Russia crisis and how it has pulled the plug on one of\xa0Arianespace\u2019s\xa0most important partnerships with Roscosmos.\xa0St\xe9phane\xa0described the challenges the war has put on the\xa0company\u2019s\xa0operations, and how it is navigating the next steps.
Lastly, Bella and St\xe9phane talk about Arianespace\u2019s upcoming launches for Australia\u2019s Optus 11 satellite, and how the company is slated to support the nation\u2019s space ambitions over the coming years.\xa0