The Ariane 5 mission for Flight 130 is a complete success!

Arianespace’s third commercial Ariane 5 launch was a complete success, placing its dual payload of American and European satellites into accurate geostationary transfer orbits.
 
The Ariane 5 lifted off right on schedule at today’s 8:54 p.m. launch window opening. Riding the brilliant plume created by the Vulcain cryogenic main engine and two large solid boosters, the heavy lift vehicle climbed rapidly into the partially cloudy French Guiana skies.
 
Arianespace’s video broadcast of the Flight 130 launch, which was carried live on the Arianespace web site, visually tracked the Ariane 5’s ascent – clearly showing the shutdown and separation of the solid boosters, followed later by the payload fairing separation some three minutes after liftoff.
 
The mission’s two payloads, SociÈtÈ EuropÈenne des Satellites’ Astra 2B and GE-7 for GE Americom, were released into highly accurate geostationary transfer orbits at approximately 29 minutes and 38 minutes into the flight, respectively.
 
"This mission – the third commercial success for Ariane 5 in less than a year – is extremely important for Arianespace," Jean-Marie Luton, Arianespace Chairman and CEO, said after Flight 130’s completion. "Our new-generation heavy-lift Ariane 5 has once again demonstrated its performance and its reliability."
 
In his post-launch comments, Luton made the announcement that Intelsat has committed three more of its spacecraft to Arianespace launches, with these missions to take place during the coming two years.
 
This is the second time in two weeks that Arianespace has announced new contracts moments after a successful flight. Immediately after last Wednesday’s Flight 132 with the Eutelsat W1 satellite, Luton revealed that Eutelsat would sign for two more launches with Arianespace. The formal agreement was signed in French Guiana the following day.
 
This is the second time in two weeks that Arianespace has announced new contracts moments after a successful flight. Immediately after last Wednesday’s Flight 132 with the Eutelsat W1 satellite, Luton revealed that Eutelsat would sign for two more launches with Arianespace. The formal agreement with Eutelsat was signed in French Guiana the following day.