Satellite Deployment, Station-Keeping and Related Insurance Coverage

Abstract

Without reliable launch services there would be no communications satellite industry. The good news is that the reliability of satellite launchers has continued to increase over time. The bad news is that despite high expectations launch services have not really gotten cheaper. The most important development in launch services over the last half century is probably the fact that a number of countries and launch services organizations within those countries have developed launch capabilities to low, medium and geosynchronous orbits. This competition has helped to lower costs. Also the development of larger boosters has allowed the launch of larger and more cost-efficient satellites (in terms of total systems costs).