ARIANESPACE TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS SECOND ARIANE 5 FOR LAUNCH IN 2009

Ariane 5 is ready for integration of the Herschel space telescope and Planck observatory following the heavy-lift vehicle’s handover to Arianespace yesterday. The two spacecraft – to be lofted by Ariane 5 during its upcoming April 16 mission – will yield new data on the universe’s birth and the formation of stars.