The Parties agree to the following factors as
being relevant to the comparison or evaluation of commercial launch services
offered in the international market for launches to geosynchronous earth orbit
or geosynchronous transfer orbit. Such factors can often explain legitimate
distinctions in the price offered for the launch of a particular payload by
different launch providers, and are particularly useful in comparing bids from
market economy providers to those from economy-in-transition providers of commercial
space launch services.
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Comparability Factor
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Description
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Intended Orbit
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Based on delivery orbit for launch provider,
and the provider of perigee kick motor (PKM)
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Risk Management
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Addresses potential differences in insurance
for customer, based on vehicle and scheduling reliability (and the different
forms of risk management, such as political risk insurance)
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Additional Costs
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- Integration Costs, Addresses different
types of payload/vehicle integration costs, and software/hardware
modifications necessary for the mission
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Required Vehicle Lift Capability
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Ensures comparison of vehicle classes
providing similar performance that are adequate to place the payload into the
desired orbit
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Payment Conditions/Terms
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Relates to various payment and financial
conditions or incentives that may be offered as part of a commercial space
launch services bid (governed by the provisions of any relevant trade
agreements and OECD guidelines)
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Lifetime
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Addresses impacts of different satellite
lifetimes (on orbit) resulting from the commercial space launch services
(this is not always a factor - the impact varies depending on case in
question)
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