The Ariane V105/44LP was launched from the Guiana Space Centre, Kourou on 4 February carrying the Hughes-built Brasilsat B3 and the fifth and final Inmarsat 3 (F5), manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The next launch, the V106 will feature an Ariane 42P model to carry the Eutelsat's Hot Bird 4 into orbit. Arianespace has also received a contract from the French space agency CNES to launch the Aerospatiale-Matra Marconi Space-built Stentor communications technology satellite aboard an Ariane 5 in 2000.
Source: Flight International
