March 26, 1980 -- Creation of Arianespace, the world's first commercial space transportation company.

November 2, 1981 -- First commercial launch services contract signed, with the U.S. company GTE Spacenet as client.

May 22, 1984 -- Ariane V9 launch, with the Spacenet 1 telecommunications satellite as payload, inaugurates the first commercial space-transportation line. The mission uses the basic Ariane 1 launcher version, and is launched from the ELA 1 pad at the Guiana Space Center. The flight is the ninth mission for an Ariane.

August 4, 1984 -- First flight of an increased-lift Ariane 3 version on Ariane flight V10. Payloads are the European ECS 2 and French Telecom 1A telecommunications satellites.

January, 1985 -- Ministers of the European Space Agency countries approve the start of preparatory work on what is to become the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

February 22, 1986 -- Ariane's V16 mission marks the last flight of the Ariane 1 version, and the first mission to heliosynchronous orbit. Primary payload is the French Spot 1 Earth observation satellite, with Sweden's Viking small scientific spacecraft as the secondary payload.

March 28, 1986 -- Ariane V17 mission is the first from the new ELA 2 launch complex at the Guiana Space Center. Passengers are the U.S. GTE Spacenet Gstar 2 and Brazilian Brasilsat 2 telecommunications spacecraft.

November 21, 1987 -- First successful launch of an Ariane 2 version. Payload is Germany's TV-SAT 1 television broadcast satellite.

November, 1987 -- European Space Agency member countries approve Ariane 5's development.

June 15, 1988 -- Maiden flight of the increased-lift Ariane 4 version on flight V22. Primary payloads are the U.S. PanAmSat 1 and European Meteosat P2. Germany's Amsat IIIC spacecraft is a secondary passenger.

February 15, 1989 -- European space industry received orders to manufacture 50 Ariane 4 launchers.

April 2, 1989 -- Final mission of an Ariane 2 launcher version. Payload is Sweden's Tele-X direct TV broadcast satellite.

June 5, 1989 -- First mission for the Ariane 44L version of the Ariane 4 family, equipped with four solid strap-on boosters. Passengers are Japan's Superbird A and DFS Kopernikus 1 telecommunications satellites.

July 12, 1989 -- Final flight of an Ariane 3, and last launch from the ELA 1 launch complex. Payload is the European Olympus telecommunications satellite.

January 22, 1990 -- First flight of an Ariane 40 version of the Ariane 4 family. Payload is the French Spot 2 Earth resources satellite, with four U.S. and two U.K. microsatellites as piggyback payloads on the ASAP auxiliary payload integration structure.

February 1, 1990 -- Arianespace capital opened to new European partners (creation of Arianespace Participation).

October 12, 1990 -- Mission V39 is first flight of a dual payload built and operated by the same company. Satellites are the SBS 6 and Galaxy VI telecommunications spacecraft for Hughes.

November 20, 1990 -- First flight of an Ariane 42P version of the Ariane 4, launched on flight V40. Passengers are the U.S. Satcom C1 and Gstar 4 telecommunications satellites.

April 4, 1991 -- First flight of the Ariane 4 family's Ariane 44P version. Payload is Canada's Anik E-2 telecommunications satellite.

October 29, 1991 -- An Ariane 44L version launches the heaviest satellite carried to date by Ariane -- the 4,259-kg. (13,969-lb.) Intelsat 6 telecommunications spacecraft on flight V47.

April 15, 1992 -- Ariane marks its 50th flight with the launch of an Ariane 44L version with the French Telecom 2B and Inmarsat II-F4 telecommunications satellites. This Ariane also is the first of the P9 batch of 50 launchers ordered by Arianespace.

May 18, 1992 -- Arianespace celebrates the signing of its 100th launch contract.

May 12, 1993 -- First Ariane 42L version of the Ariane 4 family is launched. Passengers are Luxembourg's Astra 1C telecommunications satellite and the French Arsene amateur radio spacecraft.

July 7, 1995 -- The French-built Helios 1A is the first reconnaissance spacecraft launched by Ariane. Two piggyback payloads -- Spain's UPM/Sat 1 and the French Cerise technological satellites also are carried on the mission.

October 19, 1995 -- Ariane carries its 100th telecommunications satellite -- Luxembourg's Astra 1E spacecraft.

December 6, 1995 -- Ariane's V81 mission is the 11th of the year, marking a launch record for Arianespace. Passengers are the French Telecom 2C and Indian Insat 2C telecommunications satellites.

January 12, 1996 -- A new payload lift record of 4,819 kg. (10,601 lb.) is set for Ariane with the launch of the U.S. PanAmSat 3R and Malaysian Measat 1 telecommunications spacecraft.

March 14, 1996 -- Arianespace launches its 14th mission in a period of 11.5 months with the V84 flight, which carries the Intelsat 707(A) telecommunications satellite.

July 9, 1996 -- Ariane 4 carries its heaviest payload to date -- 4,836 kg. (10,6392 lb.) -- on mission V89. Passengers are the Arab League's Arabsat 2A and Turkey's Turksat 1C telecommunications spacecraft.

November 13, 1996 -- Combined total weight of payloads placed in orbit by Ariane since the start of operations passes 250,000 kg (550,000 lb.) with the launch of the Arabsat 2B and Measat 2 telecommunications satellites.

January 30, 1997 -- A new lift performance record is set for Ariane at 4,900 kg. (10,780 lb.) with the U.S. GE-2 and Argentine's Nahuel 1A telecommunications spacecraft.

September 23, 1997 -- Ariane performs its 100th launch. Payload is the Intelsat 803 telecommunications satellite.

October 30, 1997 -- First successful flight of the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is performed.

December 21, 1998 -- Arianespace announces first constellation launch contract, with six-satellite launch on an Ariane 4 scheduled for September 1999.