The European Space Agency is studying a number of near-term upgrades to its launcher fleet to allow it to meet changing demand in the burgeoning launch market. The main drivers of these changes, agency and industry officials say, are commercial operator appetite for ever larger telecom satellites—spacecraft in the 6-metric-ton range are now becoming commonplace—as well as the reemergence of telecom constellations like Globalstar and heightened space exploration activity. The new requirements are expected to materialize around 2015, which means key decisions must be made at the next ESA ministerial summit in November 2008.
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