Milestones
Since its creation in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has led the launch services industry with many operational firsts and numerous record-setting missions.
1999
December

December 10, 1999 December 10, 1999

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.

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December 3, 1999 December 3, 1999

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

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August

August 16, 1999 August 16, 1999

Three new payloads are announced for Arianespace 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.

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July

July 20, 1999 July 20, 1999

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

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June

June 18, 1999 June 18, 1999

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

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April

April 15, 1999 April 15, 1999

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

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1998
December

December 5, 1998 December 5, 1998

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.

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October

October 28, 1998 October 28, 1998

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.

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October 21, 1998 October 21, 1998

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

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September

September 16, 1998 September 16, 1998

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

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February

February 4, 1998 February 4, 1998

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.

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1997
December

December 22, 1997 December 22, 1997

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

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October

October 30, 1997 October 30, 1997

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

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September

September 23, 1997 September 23, 1997

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

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August

August 8, 1997 August 8, 1997

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

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January

January 30, 1997 January 30, 1997

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.

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1996
September

September 10, 1996 September 10, 1996

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.

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July

July 9, 1996 July 9, 1996

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

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May

May 15, 1996 May 15, 1996

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

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March

March 18, 1996 March 18, 1996

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

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March 14, 1996 March 14, 1996

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

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January

January 25, 1996 January 25, 1996

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

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1995
December

December 6, 1995 December 6, 1995

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.

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October

October 19, 1995 October 19, 1995

Ariane carries its 100th telecommunications satellite – Luxembourg's Astra 1E spacecraft.

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July

July 7, 1995 July 7, 1995

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.

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May

May 17, 1995 May 17, 1995

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.

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1994
July

July 8, 1994 July 8, 1994

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.

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1993
November

November 20, 1993 November 20, 1993

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.

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1992
May

May 18, 1992 May 18, 1992

Arianespace celebrates the signing of its 100th launch contract.

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April

April 15, 1992 April 15, 1992

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.

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1991
October

October 29, 1991 October 29, 1991

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.

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1990
February

February 1, 1990 February 1, 1990

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

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January

January 22, 1990 January 22, 1990

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.

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