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Feature story

Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall brings holiday wishes to Japan

December 14, 2004

CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall has underscored the Japanese market's importance to Arianespace, and thanked customers for their confidence in the company's commercial launch services.

Meeting with invited guests at a year-end holiday party in Tokyo today, Le Gall noted the long-term relationship that has developed with Japan since Arianespace began actively working in the country 18 years ago.

"I want to express my gratitude to our Japanese commercial customers for ordering from us an average of one or two satellite launches every year since 1986," he said.

Le Gall noted that Arianepace's upcoming Ariane 5 mission on December 18 marks nearly 25 years of Ariane operations - as the maiden flight of an Ariane 1 vehicle was performed on December 24, 1979.

"In 2005, Arianespace will resume operations with the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA and plans to launch a total of two or three Ariane 5 ECAs and three Ariane 5 Generic vehicles," he added.

Le Gall noted that the Launch Services Alliance cooperation has brought Arianespace together with Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Boeing Launch Services in the Launch Services Alliance - a new commercial offering that combines the three launch service providers' strengths to ensure on-time launches for customers around the world.