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.
2021
October

October 23, 2021 October 23, 2021

The GTO launch leader

Ariane 5 sets a new world record for the cumulative net mass delivered to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) using a single launch vehicle: a total performance of 11.2 metric tons and a payload mass reaching 10.264 metric tons at separation. This cumulative milestone was reached on Arianespace’s Flight VA255, which successfully lofted the SES-17 and SYRACUSE 4A satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. It was the 111th Ariane 5 flight overall.

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September

September 14, 2021 September 14, 2021

1,000+ spacecraft launched

Arianespace surpasses the 1,000-mark in satellites launched with its 10th mission at the service of OneWeb. Lifting off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on Flight ST35, the medium-lift Soyuz vehicle delivered 34 more spacecraft to orbit for this global operator – bringing Arianespace’s all-time total to 1,021.

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March

March 25, 2021 March 25, 2021

Arianespace orbits its 800th spacecraft

With the successful launch of 36 more constellation satellites for OneWeb, Arianespace surpasses the 800-mark in the total number of spacecraft orbited since its creation. Performed from Vostochny Cosmodrome with the company’s Starsem affiliate, this mission utilized a Soyuz 2-1b launcher version.

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March 19, 2021 March 19, 2021

Confirming the ramp-up for Vega C

Arianespace signs a long-term supply agreement with prime contractor Avio covering 10 additional Vega C launchers – which are slated for institutional and commercial missions beginning in 2023. It is the fourth batch of Vega vehicles ordered by Arianespace, and the first comprised solely of upgraded Vega C versions.

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2020
December

December 18, 2020 December 18, 2020

An on-target debut from Vostochny

Arianespace successfully performs its initial launch from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome – delivering 36 additional OneWeb constellation satellites to low-Earth orbit using a medium-lift Soyuz. This joint mission with the company’s Starsem affiliate raised the number of in-orbit OneWeb spacecraft from 74 to 110. It also was the first ever commercial flight from Vostochny Cosmodrome.

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November

November 9, 2020 November 9, 2020

Enhancing Arianespace’s Executive Committee

Arianespace appoints its new Executive Committee based on a management structure organized by launch system, and with a more diversified European membership. Effective earlier in the month, this revamped committee comprised nine members.

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September

September 3, 2020 September 3, 2020

More than 700 spacecraft launched

Arianespace surpasses the 700-mark for spacecraft launched during its four decades of operation. This milestone occurred on the Vega Proof of Concept flight for Arianespace’s innovative Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS), delivering 50-plus nano-satellites and micro-satellites to Sun-synchronous orbits.

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January

January 7, 2020 January 7, 2020

Celebrating 40 years

Arianespace begins celebrating its 40th anniversary at the traditional year-opening press conference in Paris – during which the company highlighted its solid operational and business performance in 2019.

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