May 28, 2006
KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA - The Ariane-5 ECA launcher carrying Thai and Mexican telecommunications satellites lifts off from the Kourou base on 27 May 2006 in French Guiana. Ariane 5 ECA rocket, a heavy-duty version of the European Space Agency's (ESA) workhorse Ariane 5 series which can carry a payload of up to 10 tonnes, lifted off 2109 GMT and placed Mexico's Satmex 6 and Thailand's Thaicom 5 into preliminary orbits. (Photo by ESA/AFP/Getty Images)