An Ariane 5 rocket lights up the night sky as it begins its journey into space.

The rocket successfully launched two satellites into orbit on Oct. 13 during an evening launch from Europe’s Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

Built by Arianespace, the Ariane 5 rocket lofted the Syracuse 3A telecommunications satellite for the French military and Galaxy 15, a commercial telecommunications satellite to be used for PanAmSat.

After the successful launch, French military officials, satellite builders and other officials associated with Syracuse 3A celebrated the spacecraft’s space shot by throwing each other – fully clothed – into a pool.

• Ariane 5 Rocket Successfully Orbits Satellite Pair
• A Wet Tradition Returns to European Launch Facility

-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: Arianespace.