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Feature story

A perfect “topper” for Arianespace’s milestone Ariane 5 mission

August 2, 2012

Members of the Ariane 5 launch team at the Spaceport in French Guiana shared a memento of today’s 50th consecutive successful flight with this heavy-lift launcher as Arianespace distributed commemorative caps adorned with the mission’s special logo.

The caps were provided during a post-launch celebration held in the Pirogue cafeteria adjacent to the Spaceport’s CDL 3 launch control center, situated several kilometers from Ariane 5’s launch zone.    During the celebratory gathering, Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall addressed the team, thanking them for contributing to the launcher’s track record of success.

The special logo depicts Ariane 5 on its trajectory toward a cluster of three stars, above which is written the phrase: “50 successes in a row – Ariane 5.”  The launcher is represented during its ascent from a stylized globe, which features the silhouettes of three persons and a mirror image of the three-star cluster.

Ariane 5’s milestone mission today lofted the Intelsat 20 and HYLAS 2 satellites, which are among the 90 main spacecraft passengers and 10 auxiliary payloads carried by Arianespace’s workhorse launcher during the string of 50 back-to-back successes that began in April 2003.

• For additional information, see the Mission Update.
• Read more about this on-target mission in the press release.
• See the photo collage highlighting the 50 consecutive Ariane 5 successes.
• Review the Ariane 5’s history in the program overview press release.