Ariane Flight 201: Two new records for Astrium
Kourou, 22 April 2011
* For the first time, the Ariane 5 ECA has launched more than 10 tonnes into geostationary orbit
* The flight marks the 43rd consecutive successful launch for the Astrium-built Ariane 5
The Ariane 5 launcher developed and built by Astrium has performed yet another successful flight out of Kourou, French Guiana.
Astrium CEO François Auque expressed his gratitude to the Astrium personnel working in Guiana, France and Germany, and congratulated them for another job well done: “This latest success proves once again that the European Space Agency made the right choice when it tasked Astrium with managing the Ariane programme, as we have been able to increase the launcher’s capabilities without increasing its costs. As this flight clearly demonstrates, our hard work has paid off. Slowly but surely since 2003, we have added an additional 500 kilos to the launch payload.”
For Flight 201, the required performance was 10,065 kilos in geostationary orbit, including 8,965 kg for the satellites and the remaining weight for Astrium’s SYLDA dual launch system.
About Astrium
Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services.
In 2010, Astrium had a turnover of €5 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 comprehensive end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security satellite communications equipment, bespoke geo-information and navigation services worldwide.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2010, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.
Press contacts:
Daniel Mosely
Astrium United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 14 38.77 81 80
Fax: +44 14 38.77 30 69
Astrid Emerit
Head of Corporate Media Astrium
Astrium
Tel.: +33 1.77 75 80 36
Fax: +33 1.77 75 80 80
Ralph Heinrich
Astrium Germany
Tel.: +49.89 60 73 39 71
Fax: +49.89 60 72 97 65
Francisco Lechon
Astrium Spain
Tel.: +34 91.5 86 37 41
Fax: +34 91.5 86 37 82
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