PARIS — Arianespace is weighing options to increase the launch rate of the Ariane 6 rocket beyond 10 per year if government and commercial demand supports it.

Speaking with reporters Sept. 16 at the World Space Business Week conference, Arianespace Chief Executive David Cavaillolès said the company is considering scenarios where new satellite constellations could create enough demand to justify expanded launch capacity.

“Now, we are reopening the case” for increasing capacity after focusing on getting Ariane 6 flying, he said. In one scenario, demand outside captive systems such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Chinese constellations remains flat, and no increase is needed.

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