At exactly 17:26 (CET) December 18,2004 Flight 165 lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its northward mission to Sun-synchronous orbit. This is the 17th commercial mission of the Ariane 5 Generic launcher.
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http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Home/SEMBN03AR2E_0.html