December 27, 2006 Inaugural flight of the enhanced Soyuz 2-1b launcher orbits the COROT astronomy satellite

December 26, 2006 Soyuz is transferred to the launch pad for its December 27 liftoff with COROT

December 20, 2006 Arianespace's launcher family in action: Corot is readied for its Soyuz mission with Starsem

December 8, 2006 > Ariane 5 wraps up a successful year with another on-target mission
> Final countdown underway for Arianespace's year-ending Ariane 5 mission

December 7, 2006 Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone with its AMC-18 and WildBlue-1 payloads

December 6, 2006 The go-ahead is given for Arianespace's upcoming "all American" Ariane 5 flight

December 1, 2006 WildBlue-1 joins AMC-18 on the Ariane 5 launcher

November 29, 2006 Ariane 5 is fitted with the first of its two satellite payloads

November 28, 2006 WildBlue-1 is integrated for its launch on Ariane 5

November 27, 2006 Ariane 5's satellites are readied for installation on the launch vehicle

November 21, 2006 Arianespace's fifth heavy-lift Ariane 5 of 2006 enters final assembly

November 14, 2006 WildBlue-1 completes the pre-launch fit-check with Ariane 5 launcher hardware

November 10, 2006 WildBlue-1 starts its pre-launch preparations at the Spaceport

November 7, 2006 SES AMERICOM's AMC-18 begins pre-launch checkout at the Spaceport

November 6, 2006 Europe's Spaceport welcomes the initial satellite for Ariane 5's upcoming dual-payload launch

November 1, 2006 Ariane 5 is topped off with its vehicle equipment bay

October 31, 2006 Ariane 5's cryogenic upper stage is integrated on the launch vehicle

October 27, 2006 Assembly begins for the fifth Ariane 5 to be launched in 2006

October 16, 2006 First photos of Japanese LDREX-2 antenna deployment released by JAXA

October 13, 2006 > Ariane 5 adds another heavy-lift mission success to its operational track record
> Launch day update: Ariane 5 lifts off from Europe's Spaceport
> Final countdown underway for tonight's multi-payload Ariane 5 mission

October 12, 2006 Arianespace rolls out its fourth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2006

October 11, 2006 The launch readiness review approves Ariane 5's October 13 liftoff

October 10, 2006 Liftoff Ariane 5 ECA - DIRECTV 9S - OPTUS D1: launch delayed by 24 hours

October 6, 2006 Arianespace completes the integration of its next Ariane 5 launcher

October 4, 2006 Optus D1 is mated to the Ariane 5 launcher

October 2, 2006 DIRECTV 9S is integrated on Ariane 5's multiple payload dispenser

September 27, 2006 The DIRECTV 9S satellite is fueled at the Spaceport

September 21, 2006 Optus D1 is fueled for its upcoming launch on Ariane 5

September 19, 2006 Final integration begins for the next heavy-lift Ariane 5 flight

September 7, 2006 Ariane 5 will launch two U.S.-built payloads on its next heavy-lift mission

August 31, 2006 Ariane 5 is fitted with its Japanese "piggyback" payload

August 24, 2006 DIRECTV 9S is readied for Arianespace's mid-September Ariane 5 launch

August 22, 2006 Optus D1 arrives at the Spaceport for its upcoming Ariane 5 launch

August 17, 2006 Satellite check-out begins for Arianespace's next multiple-payload Ariane 5 mission

August 11, 2006 > Ariane 5 orbits JCSAT-10 and Syracuse 3B on a dual-satellite launch success
> The successful JCSAT-10/Syracuse 3B launch in photos
> Ariane 5's final countdown is underway for this evening's dual-satellite launch

August 11, 2006Arianespace schedules its next Ariane 5 ECA mission for September

August 10, 2006 Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone with its commercial and military satellite passengers

August 9, 2006 It's a "go" for Friday's Ariane 5 dual-satellite launch!

August 3, 2006 Increased performance cryogenic upper stage installed on Ariane 5

August 3, 2006 JCSAT-10 is installed on Ariane 5's SYLDA 5 dispenser

July 31, 2006 Ariane 5's Syracuse 3B military payload completes its fueling process

July 28, 2006 A second Ariane 5 ECA launch campaign is underway at the Spaceport

July 27, 2006 JSAT Corporation's JCSAT-10 is fueled at the Spaceport

July 25, 2006 Ariane 5 ECA's civil/military satellite mix demonstrates dual-launch flexibility

July 21, 2006 Arianespace transfers another Ariane 5 ECA to the Final Assembly Building for payload integration

July 20, 2006 Launch postponement for the MetOp-A satellite

July 18, 2006 JCSAT-10 begins its preparation for Arianespace's next dual-satellite mission

July 14, 2006 The JCSAT-10 satellite arrives in French Guiana for its Ariane 5 ECA mission

July 3, 2006 The improved Soyuz 2-1a launcher's new payload fairing is ready for flight

June 22, 2006 The Ariane 5 ECA completes its initial build-up at Europe's Spaceport

June 20, 2006 Ariane 5 ECA receives its increased-performance upper stage

June 16, 2006 MetOp-A is readied for its July flight on the upgraded Soyuz 2-1a launcher

June 13, 2006 The Ariane 5 ECA for Arianespace's next dual-satellite mission begins its build-up

May 27, 2006 > Ariane 5 ECA enters the record books with an outstanding performance
> The successful record-setting mission in photos
> The heavy-lift Ariane 5 lifts off with its record-setting dual satellite payload
> Final countdown underway for the heavy-lift Ariane 5 launch with Thaicom 5 and Satmex 6

May 26, 2006 A record-setting Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone

May 25, 2006 The go-ahead is given for Ariane 5's record-setting launch

May 24, 2006 Countdown underway for a May 27 liftoff

May 18, 2006 The record-setting Ariane 5 launcher is complete!

May 17, 2006 Launcher integration begins for Ariane 5's dual-satellite payload

May 16, 2006 Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 are fueled for their upcoming Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch

May 12, 2006 The heavy-lift Ariane 5 transfers to the Final Assembly Building for payload integration

April 27, 2006 Europe's Spaceport prepares for another record-setting Ariane 5 performance on May 26

April 25, 2006 Satellite preparation is in full swing for the upcoming Ariane 5 mission

April 22, 2006 The first payload for Arianespace's upcoming dual-satellite mission arrives in French Guiana

April 13, 2006 The basic Ariane 5 is complete with the installation of its guidance and control systems

April 4, 2006 Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA is fitted with its powerful upper stage

March 27, 2006 Mission preparations begin for Arianespace's second dual-satellite Ariane 5 flight of 2006

March 13, 2006 Launcher elements arrive in French Guiana for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 ECA dual-satellite mission

March 11, 2006 > Ariane 5 carries another dual-satellite payload into orbit!
> Final countdown resumed for the Ariane 5 ECA launch with SPAINSAT and HOT BIRD™ 7A

March 10, 2006 Ariane launch with Spainsat and HOT BIRD™ 7A

March 9, 2006 > Launch postponed
> Launch day special update: Final countdown underway for the Ariane 5 ECA launch with HOT BIRD™ 7A and SPAINSAT

March 8, 2006 Ariane 5 is ready for liftoff with SPAINSAT and HOT BIRD™ 7A

February 28, 2006 The launch of SPAINSAT - HOT BIRD™ 7A postponed to Thursday, March 9, 2006

February 26, 2006 Arianespace SPAINSAT/HOT BIRD™ 7A launch update

February 23, 2006 Ariane 5 is back in the launch zone with its SPAINSAT and HOT BIRD™ 7A payloads

February 22, 2006 > Arianespace gives the go-ahead for Ariane 5's liftoff on Friday
> Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA launch is tentatively rescheduled for Friday

February 21, 2006 The Ariane 5 ECA launch with HOT BIRD™ 7A and SPAINSAT is postponed

February 20, 2006 Another dual-payload Ariane 5 ECA is poised for liftoff

February 19, 2006 Arianespace's first mission of 2006 is given the go-ahead for launch

February 13, 2006 The Ariane 5 ECA is fitted with its dual-satellite payload

February 10, 2006 SPAINSAT and HOT BIRD™ 7A begin their integration with Ariane 5 hardware

February 7, 2006 Ariane 5's dual-satellite payload gets its "kick"

February 6, 2006 The heavy-lift Ariane 5 moves to the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building

February 3, 2006 SPAINSAT is readied for fueling at the Spaceport's S5 satellite preparation facility

January 25, 2006 SPAINSAT arrives at the Spaceport for Ariane 5's dual-passenger mission

January 23, 2006 HOT BIRD™ 7A begins pre-flight preparations for its upcoming Ariane 5 ECA launch

January 20, 2006 The Eutelsat HOT BIRD™ 7A satellite arrives for Arianespace's upcoming Ariane 5 launch

January 16, 2006 The heavy-lift Ariane 5 is fitted with its vehicle equipment bay

January 5, 2006 Another Ariane 5 ECA begins its assembly process at the Spaceport