Paris - European satellite launcher Arianespace said Tuesday that it had registered profits of 2.5 million euros (3.44 million dollars) in 2008. In a statement released on the occasion of the 100th annual Paris International Air Show, the company said that 2008 was its sixth consecutive year in the black.
Sales for the year stood at 955.7 million euros as the company placed nearly 65 metric tons of hardware into orbit last year.
The company said its objective for 2009 was to carry out seven launches with its Ariane 5 rocket. The launcher has already completed two successful missions this year.
Its next scheduled launch is on July 1 when it is to boost into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) the largest communications satellite ever built, TerreStar-1.
