This TV Exchange includes the best images from the Ariane 5 ECA launch, including time-lapse recordings of lift-off and images shot from viewing points for the general public in Kourou, French Guiana. Also shots of control room.
Failure Ariane 5 ECA / payload / commercial payloads / maiden flight / 12 february 2005 / launch / Kourou control room / Jean-Yves Le Gall / Arianespace

Ariane 5 ECA ñ the picture album
10:00:40 The latest version of Ariane 5, designed to put 10 tonnes into orbit, successfully completed its maiden flight on 12 February 2005.
A picture-perfect lift-off from Europe's Spaceport Kourou in French Guiana, at 21:03 GMT, was followed by an accurate injection of two payloads right into the predicted orbit.
10:01:16 This was a dramatic moment for Europe, 26 months after the failed first flight of Ariane-5 ECA. This failure necessitated a thorough review of all Ariane 5 systems, followed by innumerable preventive and corrective actions, to minimise the probability of a repeat.
10:01:37 Quote/Jean Yves Le Gall-chief Executive Officer AdrianeSpace ""As you have probably noticed something went wrong during this evenings launch which has caused the premature end of the mission 3 minutes after liftoff""
10:01:47 This launch paves the way for the commercial introduction of the Ariane 5 ECA which is due to replace the less powerful current Aria