On the historic date of Wednesday, July 5, the renowned Ariane 5 rocket bid farewell as it gracefully soared into the skies, culminating its final flight with a remarkable accomplishment.
This momentous event involved the successful deployment of satellites commissioned by the German and French governments into the vast expanse of space.
Saying Goodbye To The Ariane 5
Known by its official designation as flight VA261, the Ariane 5 majestically lifted off from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in Kourou, situated in the picturesque region of French Guiana, at precisely 22:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Satellites aboard the Ariane 5 included the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) Heinrich-Hertz (H2SAT) and the French Defense Procurement Agency’s (DGA) Syracuse 4B.
Flight VA261 lasted 33 minutes and 32 seconds from launch to the separation of the last satellite, according to Arianespace, the operator of the Ariane 5; the payloads were placed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
ArianeGroup, the manufacturer of the vehicle, announced the new launch date on June 23 after replacing the three pyrotechnical transmission lines associated with the solid rocket boosters that were identified as the source of the problem.
According to the flight chronology published by the rocket manufacturer ArianeGroup, Heinrich-Hertz separated from the upper stage at approximately T+29:55 minutes after launch, followed shortly by Syracuse 4B at T+33:00 minutes.
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Final Mission Boosts Germany And France’s Communication Network
After 27 years of operation, this event signified the conclusion of the Ariane 5 program. It was the 347th launch for the entire Arianespace family of launchers and the 117th voyage for the Ariane 5.
The final launch is expected to enhance Germany and France’s communications capabilities.
The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology finances, implements, and OHB System GmbH manufactures the H2SAT communications satellite.
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