The Director General of the ESA (European Space Agency), Jan Wörner, paid a visit to AVIO, together with Roberto Battiston, President of the ASI (Italian Space Agency). The guests were greeted by the CEO of AVIO, Giulio Ranzo.

The mission lifted off at 02:20 AM local time, 06:20 AM in Rome, from the Kourou European Space Centre in French Guiana, and lasted for a total of 27 minutes and 23 seconds. EUTELSAT 65 WEST A was correctly placed into a geostationary transfer orbit.

AVIO has completed and delivered a major satellite propulsion system to its customer, confirming its expertise in space propulsion systems for satellites as well as launchers.

About a hundred of the main European experts in space launchers gathered at Colleferro, near Rome, for a project in which the AVIO Group has a leading role both for the new space motors and especially for the VEGA C orbital launc

This is the 273rd mission carried out by the European family of launchers, which includes the VEGA – a next-generation launcher designed and built by AVIO through its ELV subsidiary.

Ariane 5 is ready for its first flight in 2016: on January 27, a European launcher will propel the Intelsat 29e satellite into orbit.