ESA Press Release:

Plasma physicists have made an unprecedented measurement in their study of the Earth's magnetic field. Thanks to ESA's Cluster satellites they detected an electric field thought to be a key element in the process of 'magnetic reconnection'. 

Thanks to these measurements, obtained by the eight PEACE electron sensors onboard the four spacecraft, scientists now have their first insight into magnetic reconnection's detailed behaviour.

Magnetic reconnection is a process that can occur almost anywhere that a magnetic field is found. In a reconnection event, the magnetic field lines are squeezed together somehow and spontaneously reconfigure themselves. This releases energy. When it occurs near the surface of the Sun, such an event powers giant solar flares that can release thousands of millions of tonnes of electrically charged particles into space.

Khrunichev Press Release:

A three–stage version of the Russia’s famous Proton launch vehicles family, known as the Proton –K, lifted off on its maiden flight on 10 March, 1967 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, carrying Russian Kosmos 146 spacecraft into a planned highly elliptical earth orbit. The first mission was successful.

Since then, Proton became well known as one of the most capable and reliable heavy launch vehicles in operation, with an outstanding reliability rating of about 96 percent and a total of 324 launches.

The Proton originally was introduced in 1965 as a booster for heavy military payloads and for space stations. It was designed by the Salyut Design Bureau and is manufactured by a Moscow –based Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center.

Proton K is used in the basic three – stage configuration for heavy, LEO mission, while its four-stage configuration witha restartable Block DM fourth stage versions is used to lift heavy payloads into high-energy trajectories (geo-transfer, geosynchronous, geostationary, and interplanetary). 

Arianespace Press Release: 

Ariane 5 underscored its mission capability and operational maturity with tonight's successful dual-passenger mission, which placed the Skynet 5A and INSAT 4B satellites into geostationary transfer orbit.

Lifting off from the Spaceport in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 deployed Skynet 5A at 26 minutes into the mission, followed four minutes later by INSAT 4B.  

"With this first launch of the year 2007, Arianespace has once again demonstrated its leadership," said CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. "The satisfaction of every customer is our keyword, offering the best possible Service & Solutions to each one."

The on-target flight was another Ariane 5 heavy-lift mission with two passengers, which is a unique capability among launch vehicles in the commercial marketplace. Skynet 5A weighed in at approximately 4,700 kg. at liftoff, while INSAT 4B had a launch mass of about 3,000 kg.  

Skynet 5A is the first in a series of next-generation secure military relay satellites that will serve British armed forces, NATO and allied countries – and it is the fifth launched for the U.K. Ministry of Defence by Arianespace. The EADS Astrium-built Skynet 5A is to be operated by Paradigm Secure Communications, a commercial organization.

ESA Press Release: