Today the Space
Foundation presented its 2004 Space Achievement Award to Arianespace, the CNES
French national space agency and the European Space Agency (ESA), in a
ceremony held at Colorado Springs (Colorado, USA).
The annual Space Foundation prize was awarded to the teams responsible for
operating the Ariane 4 launcher, which orbited 182 satellites for 50 customers
from around the world, on 116 Ariane 4 vehicles.
Ariane 4 entered service in June 1988 and carried out its final mission in
February 2003.
“This award recognizes the excellence and reliability of the European
launcher,” said Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman of Arianespace. “It is a fitting
tribute to the remarkable development work accomplished by CNES, and in
general to the entire European industry operating through ESA. At the same
time, it recognizes the top-flight professionalism of Arianespace’s
operational and commercial staff.”
“We are especially honored to have won this prize from America’s
prestigious Space Foundation, and would like to thank them on behalf of
everybody who contributed to this landmark space program,” Luton added.
About Arianespace
Arianespace is the commercial launch services leader, holding more than 50
percent of the international market for satellites launched to geostationary
transfer orbit (GTO). Created in 1980 as the world’s first commercial space
transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts for the launch of
more than 250 satellite payloads. For further information, see the
Arianespace Web site at www.arianespace.com.
