- Postmarks: Kourou (French Guiana) “Ariane Launch” (slogan cancellation or illustrated postmark).
- Special stamp for each launch with the names of the satellites placed into orbit.
- Postal link “Strasbourg, Council of Europe” (France).
- Limited edition (200 to 300 numbered copies) – RARE
On December 24, 1979, the first launcher in the Ariane family delivered a successful inaugural flight to Europe, granting it independence in accessing space.
On December 24, 1979, Ariane finally took off at 2:14 p.m. local time in French Guiana, becoming a true Christmas gift for Europe. While no satellite was placed into orbit, the onboard "technology capsule," supplemented with ballast, collected data and demonstrated that the launcher had functioned as intended.
The road ahead would be long, however, as the second Ariane 1 flight ended in failure, and opposition to the program regained momentum. But patiently, the Ariane launcher built its reliability, evolved into Ariane 5, and became a major player in the competitive launch market through Arianespace, the company responsible for its commercialization. Almost four decades later, on November 26, 2019, Ariane 5 even marked the 250th flight of an Ariane launcher across all versions from 1 to 5, a symbol of continuity in the commitment to providing Europe with a concrete tool for sovereignty in accessing space, coupled with a strong presence in the launch market. (source: Cité de l'Espace)
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