Europe’s Arianespace Sees Satellites Take Giant Leap into Small Steps

New strategy reflects growing prominence of small earth-observation and broadband satellites

European rocket provider Arianespace SA has notched a new company record for the number of satellite launches in a year, as management continues to stress reliability and slash expenses to compete with lower-cost rivals.

Thursday’s uneventful launch of two Galileo navigation satellites for the European Commission from French Guiana was the 12th time an Arianespace-operated rocker.