The flight will mark an industry milestone, with Ariane 5 becoming the first new-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle to enter commercial service. Ariane 5 was qualified for commercial operations after its third validation mission, conducted in October 1998.

Arianespace plans to perform as many as six commercial Ariane 5 launches in 2000.

Launch campaign planning: activity resumed October 20 in Kourou

• October 20 Resumption of campaign -- Launcher reactivated in the launcher integration building. Launcher re-configuration begins for a single satellite payload with XMM.
• November 19 Transfer of launcher to the final assembly building
• November 25 XMM satellite integrated on Ariane 504 launcher
• December 6 General rehearsal
• December 9 Transfer to launch zone
• December 10 Final countdown

The next launch : Flight 123, a mission for GE American Communications

The next Arianespace launch, Flight 123, is slated for November 13. An Ariane 44LP will loft the GE-4 television satellite for GE American Communications. Following Flight 122, and the two launch contracts signed at Telecom Geneva '99, for Astra 2D and NSS-7, Arianespace's backlog now stands at 43 satellites to be launched.

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Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India.