Best wishes to Ariane and to our Readers in 1995

The year 1995 starts with an important task for Ariane-4, namely restoring its operational flight status as quickly as possible after the failed V70 flight. It is not yet possible to say when Ariane will fly again, but let us bring to Ariane the support of our wishes in this season traditionally devoted to good wishes. Nineteen-hundred and ninety-five will anyway be a very important one because, in addition to the Ariane-4 launches (10 are planned), the following events are scheduled:

• The final phase of the Ariane-5 ground qualification
• The first Ariane-5 qualification launch (A 501)
• The launching by Ariane of three ESA spacecraft: the Earth observation satellite ERS-2, the infrared space observatory ISO and the set of four scientific satellites forming the Cluster mission.

In addition several important decision are expected relative to the Ariane-5 Complementary Programmes.