CP026-2008 - 39rd successful launch of Ariane 5

After lift-off from Kourou in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 ECA launcher once again successfully accomplished its mission during the night of 12 to 13 June 2008 by placing in orbit both the secure military telecommunications satellite Skynet 5C, built by EADS Astrium for Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd and the civil telecommunications satellite Turksat 3A, built by Thales Alenia Space.

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 achieving 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 all “for the trust they have shown in France and Europe on this occasion.”

He also warmly congratulated and thanked the teams at CNES’s Launcher Directorate and 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.”