N° 26–2004: Ariane 5 and Soyuz to launch two Australian satellites from the Guiana Space Centre

Following the announcement of the signing of the contract by Arianespace for the launch of two Australian satellites, Optus D1 and Optus D2, on Ariane 5 and Soyuz from the Guiana Space Centre, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and the Director General of the Federal Space Agency (Russia), Anatoli Perminov, declared themselves very satisfied with the contract, which showed that ESA Member States had been right to decide to integrate Soyuz into the family of European launchers operated by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre.