Arianespace launched an Ariane 40 booster from Kourou on 3 December, carrying the 2,500kg Helios 1B "spy satellite" into 700km sun-synchronous orbit. It was the 50th consecutive successful launch of an Ariane 4 model and the eighth successful Ariane launch for the year. The $1 billion two-satellite Helios 1 programme is led by France, with Italy and Spain as partners. Matra Marconi Space (MMS) is prime contractor for the satellites. Helios 1A was launched in 1995. A Helios 2 programme is set to begin in 2002 and MMS will be prime contractor, with the 4,500kg spacecraft being based on the Spot 4 remote sensing satellite bus.
Source: Flight International
