Under the watchful eye of two helicopters, the Ariane 5 for tonight’s successful mission is transferred to the ELA-3 launch zone.  This vehicle was the 179th in the Ariane family of launchers, and it marked the 35th flight of an Ariane 5.

The heavy-lift Ariane 5 is shown in profile at the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone.  It is installed on one of two mobile launch tables for Ariane 5, which includes a fixed umbilical mast with the propellant feed arms for the vehicle’s cryogenic upper stage.

This close-up details the base of Ariane 5’s cryogenic core stage, including a portion of its Vulcain 2 main engine.  The two ball-shaped bottles (which are covered with silver-colored protective wrapping) contain helium for pressurization of the core stage’s liquid oxygen propellant tank and for the stage’s control system.   Visible at the left is one of Ariane 5’s two solid propellant boosters, which is mated to the cryogenic stage with connecting struts.

The Spaceport’s state-of-the launch vehicle control center oversees Ariane 5 operations during the vehicle’s preparation and launch.  This facility was developed specifically for the Ariane 5, and can handle two launch campaigns in parallel.

Ariane 5 lights up the night sky as it ascends from the ELA-3 launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport, carrying its two satellites with a combined payload mass of more than 8,700 kg.