Ariane 5 ECA | Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B

Hot Bird 10 is a French communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. It provides direct to home broadcasting from geostationary orbit at 13 degrees East. NSS9 is a communications satellite owned by SES, operating at 177 degrees West. Spirale is a French government programme to develop an early wanring system which will use infrared satellite imagery to detect the flights of ballistic missiles. This was a demonstration using two micro satellites.

Ariane 5 is a heavy-lift launch vehicle, part of the Ariane rocket family.

Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.