images

Ariane 5 launch. 12/1999

by

ESA/CNES/Novapix

Reference

e-leu12-00522

Date

2006-10-21

The European Space Agency's XMM satellite, set off into space from Kourou, French Guiana, at 15:32 Paris time on 10 December. The mighty Ariane 5 launcher, making its very first commercial launch, hurled the 3.9-tonne spacecraft into a far-ranging orbit.