Arianespace's fourth Soyuz mission a success Pléiades 1B in orbit

On Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 11:02 pm local time, Arianespace successfully launched its fourth Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana, orbiting the Pléiades 1B observation satellite for French space agency, CNES.

Fourth successful Soyuz launch from CSG

The Soyuz at CSG program carries on the long-standing collaboration in space between Europe and Russia, and gives Europe a medium-capacity launch vehicle that perfectly complements the Ariane 5 heavy launcher and the Vega light launcher.

With these three launchers, Arianespace is the only launch services company in the world capable of launching all types of payloads to all orbits, including communications, scientific and Earth observation satellites, as well as constellations, cargo missions to the International Space Station and more.

Arianespace has carried out nine missions from the Guiana Space Center to date in 2012, including six Ariane 5, two Soyuz and one Vega launch. The company's European-Russian subsidiary, Starsem, has also carried out a Soyuz launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Arianespace has scheduled another Ariane 5 launch by the end of the year.