April 18, 2008

CP018-2008 - 38rd successful launch of Ariane 5

 

After lift-off from Kourou in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 ECA launcher once again successfully accomplished its mission on 18 April 2008 when it placed in orbit the telecommunications satellites Star One C2, built by Thales Alenia Space for the South American operator Star One, and VINASAT-1, built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for the operator, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.

Yannick d’Escatha, President of CNES, stated that he was fully satisfied with “this success which confirms yet again the excellent design and technical and operational maturity of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher.”

He reiterated that "Ariane 5 has become the reference European launcher, ensuring a quality service to Arianespace customers for their satellites, and guaranteed access to space for Europe, which is vital for realising its ambitious space policy."

The President of CNES congratulated Arianespace’s customers, as well as the companies that built the two satellites, and thanked them for the trust they had showed in France and Europe on this occasion.

He also warmly congratulated and thanked the teams at CNES’s Launcher Directorate and the Guiana Space Centre for this remarkable achievement, as well as the teams at ESA, Arianespace and all the industrial partners who contributed to this joint success.