Posted: Tue, Jun 24, 2003, 10:45 AM ET (1445 GMT)
Arianespace announced Friday that it has ordered an additional 30 Ariane 5 boosters for use in the second half of the decade. The company said that it ordered from the European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company (EADS) a total of 30 Ariane 5 vehicles, called the "PA batch", which will be delivered starting in the spring of 2005 at the rate of six a year over five years. A total of 25 of the 30 will be the Ariane 5 ECA variant, the version of the Ariane 5 capable of placing up to ten tons into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Ariane 5 ECA failed on its first flight in December 2002; EADS is working on upgrades to the vehicle and a test flight is scheduled for March 2004.

Related Links:

•  Arianespace press release
•  Dow Jones Newswires article