SEVILLE, Spain — European Space Agency (ESA) governments agreed to spend 742 million euros ($817 million) over the next three years to assure financial break-even for operations of the retiring heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket, its Ariane 6 successor and the current and future versions of the Vega light-lift vehicle.
The new Launchers Exploitation Accompaniment Program (LEAP) is basically a retread of the current cost offsets used for Ariane 5 and Vega. It was one of several launcher support efforts approved by ESA ministers meeting here Nov. 27 . . .
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