Starsem, the Arianespace/Aerospatiale/Russian Space Agency/Samara consortium which markets the Soyuz booster for commercial launchers, has completed qualification of the Fregat upper stage for the vehicle. Added to the Soyuz, the Fregat will improve the booster's low and medium earth orbit capability and enable it to complete planetary-type missions. The Soyuz-Fregat will be used next year to launch the first of two missions to carry pairs of European Space Agency Cluster science satellites. The combination will also launch the Mars Express in 2003.
Source: Flight International
