Arianespace has signed a contract with Astrium Space Transportation for the production of 35 heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECAs. Designated the “PB” batch, these launch vehicles will be deployed on missions beginning in the second half of 2010. This agreement – worth more than 4 billion euros – follows the letter of intent signed at the 2007 Paris Air Show, and brings Arianespace’s total number of Ariane 5 launchers under production to 49.