March 9 -- Arianespace performs its first mission in support of the International Space Station, delivering the 19,000 kg.-Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) resupply spacecraft with an Ariane 5 ES.

2007

November 14 -- The Ariane 5 ECA launcher sets a new heavy-lift record, orbiting a total payload of more than 8,700 kg. with the Skynet 5B and Star One C1 satellites.

August 14 -- Arianespace performs its first launch for Hughes Network Systems, orbiting the SPACEWAY 3 satellite on a dual-payload Ariane 5 mission with BSAT-3a.

June 23 -- New contracts announced at the Paris Air Show bolsters Arianespace's launch services leadership position. The orders included a multi-launch framework agreement with SES, as well as contracts for Arabsat 5 (Arab League), Thor 6 (Norway), Rascom 1 (Africa) and Insat 4G (India).

June 23 -- Arianespace signs a preliminary order with Astrium for the production of 35 Ariane 5 launchers, which is in addition to the batch of 30 Ariane 5s ordered in 2004.

April 4 -- Optus D3 is the 285th satellite payload signed by Arianespace. To be lofted by an Ariane or Soyuz launch vehicle in 2009 from Europe's Spaceport, Optus D3 will be the fifth satellite launched by Arianespace for Australian operator Optus.

April 2 -- Arianespace announces it will launch two Intelsat payloads: the Horizons-2 spacecraft for Horizons Satellite LLC (a joint venture between Intelsat and JSAT), and Intelsat-11. Both spacecraft are to be carried by an Ariane 5 in the third quarter of 2007.

March 1 -- SPACEWAY 3 becomes the latest satellite payload signed with Arianespace for an Ariane 5 launch. The Hughes Network Systems spacecraft will be delivered to geostationary transfer orbit during a mission scheduled from Europe's Spaceport in August 2007.

February 21 -- A press release issued during the Satellite 2007 conference details SES AMERICOM's contract for the launch of its AMC-21 aboard an Ariane 5 in 2008. This is the 26th satellite entrusted to Arianespace by a member of the SES family of companies.

January 8 -- Arianespace announces a contract to launch the ProtoStar I direct-to-home satellite for ProtoStar Ltd., which is the 280th launch contract won by Arianespace since its creation in 1980.

2006

December 27 -- A joint Arianespace/Starsem mission orbits the Europeam COROT astronomy satellite on the inaugural flight of the enhanced Soyuz 2-1b launcher.

December 8 -- Arianespace’s final Ariane 5 mission of the year orbits the WildBlue-1 and AMC-18 satellites, bringing total payloads lofted by Ariane 5 in 2006 to 10 primary satellites and one auxiliary passenger – more than all competitors combined.

November 8 -- Emerging North American mobile communications operator TerreStar Networks chooses Arianespace to launch TerreStar I, which will be the largest commercial communications satellite ever launched into geostationary orbit.

May 27 -- Ariane 5 delivers a record-setting dual-satellite payload of more than 8,200 kg. to GTO on its successful heavy-lift flight with the Satmex 6 & Thaicom 5 telecommunications satellites.

February 8 -- Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall is honored as the Satellite Executive of the Year by Via Satellite magazine.

2005

November 17 -- The heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA boosts a record payload into orbit by lofting the SPACEWAY 2 high-definition direct broadcast satellite for American operator DIRECTV, and the TELKOM 2 communications satellite for Indonesian operator PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk. With a total mass of over 8,000 kg. injected into orbit, the SPACEWAY 2 and TELKOM 2 satellites represent the heaviest dual payload ever launched.

June 14 -- The Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport provides Arianespace an opportunity to mark its 25 years of excellence in the commercial launch services marketplace. During its quarter century of operations, Arianespace has become the world leader in launch solutions, and maintains the industry's no. 1 position.

August 11 and 14 -- Arianespace scores back-to-back mission successes in a three-day period as an Ariane 5 orbits the THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) spacecraft on August 11 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, while a Starsem-operated Soyuz lofts the Galaxy 14 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on August 14. THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) is the largest commercial communications satellite ever placed in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), and will be operated by Thailand's Shin Satellite Public Company Limited. Galaxy 14 is the second in a series of new-generation satellites ordered by PanAmSat for the delivery of video and TV programming.

February 12 -- The Ariane 5 ECA launcher successfully orbits the XTAR-EUR communications satellite and the Sloshsat scientific payload, validating the heavy-lift launcher's performance and accuracy.

2004

October 6 -- An international grouping announces plans to launch a cluster of 50 nanosatellites on a single Arianespace mission in 2007 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first man-made satellite. The mission will be performed for the International Astronautical Federation, and is to involve the cooperative efforts of Arianespace, the Russian Space Agency (with the support of the Russian space industry) and the IAF in partnership with the leading space agencies from around the world.

May 14 -- A contract is signed enabling Arianespace to prepare for its role as operator of the Vega launch system, which - along with Ariane and Soyuz - will be part of the range of three launchers to be operated from the Spaceport in French Guiana starting in 2007.

May 12 -- Australian telecommunications carrier Optus chooses Arianespace to orbit its D1 and D2 satellites using Ariane and Soyuz launchers from the Spaceport in French Guiana. The contract with Optus marks a major landmark in Arianespace's strategy to offer comprehensive launch services solutions - using both Ariane and Soyuz in French Guiana, as well as the Launch Services Alliance that the company established with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Boeing Launch Services.

May 10 -- An industry contract is signed for the manufacture of 30 Ariane 5 launchers, providing a production volume that will enable Arianespace to enhance its performance, ensure launch service continuity and maintain its competitiveness on the international launcher market. The 30-launcher batch will consist primarily of standardized Ariane 5 ECA vehicles, but also will include the Ariane 5 ES version for missions with the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

May 4 -- The DIRECTV 7S satellite is launched by Sea Launch - marking the first mission cooperatively transferred from an Ariane to another launch vehicle under terms of the Launch Services Alliance - making mission assurance a reality.

March 2 -- Arianespace Flight 158 successfully launches the European Space Agency's Rosetta comet-intercept spacecraft on Ariane 5. Rosetta embarked on an Earth escape trajectory following its release from Ariane 5's upper stage and a prolonged ballistic phase. Rosetta will be the first mission ever to land on a comet, which is set to encounter Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.

2003

December 28 -- Arianespace/Starsem Flight ST12 successfully deploys Israel's AMOS 2 telecommunications satellite into geostationary orbit. Originally slated for an Ariane 5 launch, the satellite was switched to a Soyuz/Fregat launch vehicle as a result of the flexible Arianespace/Starsem launcher family policy. This marks the first Soyuz commercial mission to geostationary orbit and the 12th mission for Starsem.

September 27 -- Ariane 5 carries its first triple-spacecraft payload on Flight 162. The mission successfully lofted the Indian Space Research Organisation's INSAT 3E telecommunications/video broadcast satellite, the e-BIRD broadband services platform for Europe’s Eutelsat and the SMART-1 lunar probe for the European Space Agency.

July -- Arianespace joins with Boeing Launch Services and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to create the Launch Services Alliance, which combines the strengths of the world's leading commercial launch providers Arianespace, to provide customers with flexible, reliable and on-time delivery to orbit.

February 15 -- The Ariane 4 launcher family ends its career with a trademark highly accurate mission that carried the Intelsat 907 payload. The launch was Ariane 4's 116th flight.

2002

September 16 -- Launch contract announced for SPAINSAT, the first military communications satellite for Spain. Built by Space Systems/Loral, SPAINSAT will be launched by an Ariane 5 in 2004 and positioned at 30 degrees West, over the Atlantic Ocean.

August 28 -- Flight 155 orbits telecom and weather satellites on Ariane 5's 13th launch, demonstrating the launcher's capability to pair up all types of satellites on a single mission. The Ariane 5's payload consisted of the Atlantic Bird^TM 1 telecommunications satellite built by Alenia Spazio for EUTELSAT, and the MSG-1 weather satellite for the European Meteorological Satellite (EUMETSAT) organization.

February 28 -- On Flight 145, an Ariane 5 places the European Space Agency's Envisat into a highly accurate Sun-synchronous orbit on a record-setting mission. The 8,000-kg. Envisat was the largest satellite ever built in Europe, the heaviest payload carried by an Ariane, and it used the longest fairing available for Ariane 5.

2001

June -- Arianespace signs eight new launch contracts at the Paris Air Show, bringing the year's total to 11 for a combined orderbook value of 600 million euros.

June 7 -- With Flight 141, Ariane 4 marks its 62nd successful launch in a row, as Arianespace's no. 1 customer, Intelsat, places into orbit the first new Intelsat IX-series satellites.

February 7 -- Two primary European military communications payloads are launched together by Ariane for the first time: Flight 139 carries Sicral for the Italian defense ministry, and Skynet 4F for the British Ministry of Defence, using an Ariane 44L.

2000

November 15 -- On a single mission, Ariane 5 lofts the PAS-1R and three auxiliary payloads on Flight 135, setting a new record by placing 6,313 kg. into orbit.

October 29 -- Arianespace's Flight 134 launches first satellite for Europe*Star UK Limited, the new telecommunications operator created through a joint venture between Alcatel Spacecom and Loral Space & Communications.

August 17 -- Arianespace successfully orbits the Egyptian Nilesat 102 and Brazilian Brasilsat B4 satellites; Flight 131 marks the 55th consecutive successful launch of Ariane 4.

June 7 -- The largest launch services contract in the history of Europe's space industry is signed by the European Space Agency with Arianespace for nine firm Ariane 5 flights to carry the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

1999

December 10 -- Ariane 5 becomes the first new-generation heavy-lift launcher to enter commercial service with the successful Flight 119/AR 504 mission. The launcher placed its XMM X-ray observatory satellite into an accurate elliptical orbit.

December 3 -- Arianespace marks the 50th consecutive successful launch with the completion of Flight 124.

August 16 -- Three new payloads are announced for Aria nespace launches: Insat 3A for the Indian Space Research Organisation, Telstar 7 for Space Systems/Loral and a yet unnamed satellite for PanAmSat. All three payloads are to be launched between the third quarter of 1999 and the third quarter of 2000.

July 20 -- Arianespace orders 20 Ariane 5 launchers in the P2 production batch, adding to the 14 previously contracted during 1995 for the first production batch.

June 18 -- Matra Marconi Space signs with Arianespace for the launch of Nilesat 102, the second spacecraft for Egyptian TV satellite operator Nilesat SA.

April 15 -- Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Marie Luton announces a contract with Orbital Sciences Corp. for Japan's BSAT-2a and BSAT-2b spacecraft.

1998

December 5 -- Flight 114 with the Satmex 5 satellite uses a geostationary transfer orbit injection optimized by the maximum use Ariane 4's 3rd stage performance reserve.

October 28 -- The payload of 4,946kg. (10,881 lb.) with AfriStar and GE-5 on Flight 113 sets an all-time lift record for an Ariane 44L.

October 21 -- Ariane 5 is qualified for commercial operation following the successful Ariane 503 flight.

September 16 -- Flight 110 carries PAS-7, the 12th Arianespace launch for PanAmSat.

February 4 -- Arianespace kicks off 1999 with the 75th Ariane 4 on Flight 105, whose Brasilsat B3 and Inmarsat III F5 satellites bring to 300,000 kg. the total combined weight of satellites orbited by Ariane.

1997

December 22 -- Flight 104 ends a busy year for Arianespace, with the mission marking the shortest interval between two commercial launches -- 19 days.

October 30 -- The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher carries its dual payload to orbit on the new vehicle's second qualification flight.

September 23 -- Ariane performs its 100th launch. Payload is the Intelsat 803 telecommunications satellite.

August 8 -- The Ariane 4 marks its 27th consecutive successful launch - a record for the program.

January 30 -- A new lift performance record is set for Ariane at 4,900 kg. (10,780 lb.) with the U.S. GE-2 and Argentine's Nahuel 1A telecommunications spacecraft.

1996

September 10 -- Arianespace welcomes a new client with Flight 91's successful orbiting of the Echostar 2 telecommunications satellite. Echostar signed for the launch in the first half of the year, and Arianespace was able to provide the rapid launch urgently needed to ensure service continuity.

July 9 -- Ariane 4 carries a new, stretched version of the mini-Spelda on Flight 89 with the Turksat 1C and Arabsat 2a satellites.

May 15-- Flight 86 launches satellites for two new country clients: Indonesia's Palapa C2 and Amos for Israel.

March 18 -- Arianespace is chosen by Alcatel Espace to launch three satellites for WorldSpace, a U.S.-based international digital audio radio provider.

March 14 -- Arianespace launches its 14th mission in a period of 11.5 months with the V84 flight, which carries the Intelsat 707(A) telecommunications satellite.

January 25 -- Matra Marconi Space selects Arianespace to launch Nilesat -- Egypt's first direct broadcast satellite.

1995

December 6 -- Flight 81 with Telecom 2C and Insat 2C is the 11th, and final, launch for 1995 -- marking a record number of Ariane missions in one year.

October 19 -- Ariane carries its 100th telecommunications satellite -- Luxembourg's Astra 1E spacecraft.

July 7-- The French-built Helios 1A is the first reconnaissance spacecraft launched by Ariane. Two piggyback payloads -- Spain's UPM/Sat 1 and the French Cerise technological satellites also are carried on the mission.

May 17 -- Flight 73 introduces the H10 3 version of Ariane's third stage. The stage provides 30 more seconds of propulsion time and a payload increase of from 60 to 140 kg.

1994

July 8 -- A new payload performance record for Ariane is set on Flight 65, with a combined weight of 4,617 kg. separated into orbit. Satellites for this mission are PanAmSat 2 and BS-3N.

1993

November 20 -- Ariane's total combined payload mass placed into orbit surpasses the 150 metric ton mark with Flight 61, which carries the Solidaridad 1 and Meteosat 6 spacecraft.

1992

May 18 -- Arianespace celebrates the signing of its 100th launch contract.

April 15 -- Ariane marks its 50th flight with the launch of an Ariane 44L version with the French Telecom 2B and Inmarsat II-F4 telecommunications satellites, This Ariane also is the first of the P9 batch of 50 launchers ordered by Arianespace.

1991

October 29 -- An Ariane 44L version launches the heaviest satellite carried to date by Ariane -- the 4,259-kg. (13,969-lb.) Intelsat 6 telecommunications spacecraft on flight V47.

1990

February 1 -- Arianespace capital opened to new European partners (creation of Arianespace Participation).

January 22 -- First flight of an Ariane 40 version of the Ariane 4 family. Payload is the French Spot 2 Earth resources satellite, with four U.S. and two U.K. microsatellites as piggyback payloads on the ASAP auxiliary payload integration structure.

1989

July 12 -- Final flight of an Ariane 3, and last launch from the ELA 1 launch complex. Payload is the European Olympus telecommunications satellite.

June 5 -- First mission for the Ariane 44L version of the Ariane 4 family, equipped with four solid strap-on boosters. Passengers are Japan's Super Bird A and DFS Kopernikus 1 telecommunications satellites.

April 2 -- Final mission of an Ariane 2 launcher version. Payload is Sweden's Tele-X direct TV broadcast satellite.

February 15 -- European space industry received orders to manufacture 50 Ariane 4 launchers.

1988

June 15 -- Maiden flight of the increased-lift Ariane 4 version. Primary payloads are the U.S. PanAmSat 1 and European Meteosat P2. Germany's Amsat IIIC spacecraft is a secondary passenger.

1987

November -- European Space Agency member countries approve Ariane 5's development.

November 21 -- First successful launch of an Ariane 2 version. Payload is Germany's TV-SAT 1 television broadcast satellite.

1986

March 28 -- Ariane V17 mission is the first from the new ELA 2 launch complex at the Guiana Space Center. Passengers are the U.S. GTE Spacenet GStar 2 and Brazilian Brasilsat 2 telecommunications spacecraft.

February 22 -- Ariane's V16 mission marks the last flight of the Ariane 1 version, and the first mission to heliosynchronous orbit. Primary payload is the French Spot 1 Earth observation satellite, with Sweden's Viking small scientific spacecraft as the secondary payload.

1985

January -- Ministers of the European Space Agency countries approve the start of preparatory work on what is to become the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

1984

August 4 -- First flight of an increased-lift Ariane 3 version. Payloads are the European ECS 2 and French Telecom 1A telecommunications satellites.

May 22 -- Ariane V9 launch, with the Spacenet 1 telecommunications satellite as payload, inaugurates the first commercial space transportation line. The mission uses the basic Ariane 1 launcher version, and is launched from the ELA 1 pad at the Guiana Space Center. The flight is the ninth mission for an Ariane.

1981

November 2 -- First commercial launch services contract signed, with the U.S. company GTE Spacenet as client.

1980

March 26 -- Creation of Arianespace, the world's first commercial space transportation company.

1979

December 24 -- The first Ariane is launched. The mission uses an Ariane 1 version, and is performed from the ELA 1 facility at the Guiana Space Center. The launcher carries the European CAT technological capsule and ballast simulating a typical satellite payload.