Strong surface and upper-level winds had delayed the shot for 48 hours, costing Arianespace the distinction of launching Earth's first rocket in the new year and the new century. That honor went to China with its launch early Wednesday of a Long March rocket carrying the Shenzhou 2 mission.

Although the winds had calmed, the sky over French Guiana late Wednesday included some clouds and rain. Not enough, however, to prevent the three-stage Ariane 4 rocket form punching a hole through the humidity just as the final rays of sunlight dropped below the western horizon.

Built by Alcatel Space, the Eurasiasat 1 spacecraft was originally targeted to launch late last year, but mission managers in early December ordered a delay so additional inspections could be made of the satellite, which was already on top of the Ariane 4 rocket at the launch pad.

Officials have not said what prompted the extra checks, which required the satellite to be taken off its booster and moved to a processing facility at the Kourou spaceport where the work could be done. Eurasiasat 1 was returned to the top of the rocket on January 3, clearing the way for launch attempts this week.

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News of Wednesday's successful launch and spacecraft separation 20 minutes later was greeted with noticeably more enthusiasm and emotion from the guests gathered at Arianespace's mission management control center.

"I'm sure you understand the relief and satisfaction of all involved in the Ariane program -- not just the few hundred in the front office here in French Guiana, but also the many thousands at the various European production sites -- that we finally sent Eurasiasat on its way after this long and difficult wait," said Arianespace launch commentator Simon Hayes.

It will take several weeks for Eurasiasat 1 controllers to check out the satellite and maneuver it into its final position over the equator at 42 degrees east longitude -- a spot over the nation of Somalia.

There its 32 Ku-band transponders will provide digital communication services and direct-to-home television programming, as well as Internet connectivity, between Turkey and parts of Europe and Asia. The satellite also will be capable of reaching parts of Africa, India and Russia.

The Eurasiasat 1 satellite is checked out at its assembly site. Click to see a larger version of this Alcatel Space image.

Ilhami Aygun, director general and CEO of Eurasiasat, called the new satellite the most powerful European satellite ever launched.

Eurasiasat 1 will join the already-operating Turksat 1C at the same point on the equator and is expected to be fully operational in early February. Officials say 90 percent of its communications capacity is sold.

Meanwhile, the Arianespace launch team is already turning its attention to its next mission as they seek to launch at least 10 more rockets during this calendar year.

Arianespace Chief Operating Officer Jacques Rossignol announced Wednesday the next launch is scheduled for February 7, when an Ariane 4 rocket will carry a pair of military communications satellites for the nations of Italy and Great Britain.

Earlier Wednesday the company's top official, Jean-Marie Luton, announced Arianespace's future continued to look bright for the next few years, thanks in part to four new contracts the European firm just signed with repeat customers from the United States, India and Israel.

With these new contracts Arianespace's backlog of satellites to be launched is 49, which officials say is worth about $4.2 billion and would keep the Kourou launch pads busy for about three years.

More numbers: Wednesday's launch marked the 138th Ariane launch overall and the 102nd flight of the Ariane 4 model, which now has a string of 60 successful missions. Of the remaining missions targeted to fly this year, five each to be onboard Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rockets.

Arianespace has plans to launch 14 more Ariane 4 rockets before retiring that version in favor of the newer and more powerful Ariane 5.