Astrium’s 45th Ariane 5 successfully launched

On 1 July 2009, at 2.52 p.m. (Kourou time), 6.52 p.m. (UK time), another Ariane 5 developed and built by Astrium was successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana, with the world’s largest commercial telecommunications satellite on board, TerreStar-1.

Astrium CEO François Auque congratulated the Astrium teams based in French Guiana, in France and in Germany, and thanked them “for this latest success, which is further proof of the Ariane 5 ECA’s excellent design. Astrium has pulled off another major feat by placing into orbit the largest commercial telecommunications satellite ever launched”.



Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of €4.3 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed a workforce of more than 118, 000.