Latest Mission updates

Ariane 5 December 11, 2017

Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone for Arianespace’s mission with four Galileo satellites

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 for Flight VA240 nears the completion of its rollout to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone for tomorrow’s afternoon liftoff with four Galileo satellites.

The next four spacecraft to join Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system are one step closer to launch following the rollout of their Ariane 5 at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

With today’s transfer from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, Arianespace’s year-ending mission of 2017 can now enter its final countdown for liftoff tomorrow afternoon.

Designated Flight VA240 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, the December 12 launch will deploy its Galileo spacecraft cluster into medium Earth orbit (MEO) at the completion of a mission lasting 3 hours, 55 minutes.

During the trajectory, Ariane 5’s storable propellant upper stage will perform two burns, which are to be separated by a 3-hour, 8-minute ballistic phase.

The satellites have a liftoff mass of approximately 715 kg. each, with Ariane 5’s overall payload lift performance on Flight VA240 set at 3,282 kg.

 

Liftoff time for Flight VA240:

French Guiana Washington, D.C. Universal Time (UTC) Paris
At 3:36:07 p.m.
on December 12
At 1:36:07 p.m.
on December 12
At 18:36:07
on December 12
At 7:36:07 p.m.
on December 12

 

 More details are available in the VA240  launch kit:

Ariane Flight VA240
PDF / 924 KB
Ariane 5 December 8, 2017

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 mission with four Galileo satellites is a “go” for launch

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