This photo, taken in the upper level of the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, shows the Ariane 5 ready for its rollout to the ELA-3 launch zone.  Ariane 5’s payload fairing carries logos of the Skynet 5C and Turksat 3A satellites, along with the corporate identity of Arianespace and its “Service & Solutions” motto.

Riding atop its mobile launch platform, Ariane 5 reaches the midway point in its transfer to the ELA-3 launch zone.  Payload performance for this mission was approximately 8,540 kg. – which included the 7,745 kg. mass of the two satellites, plus spacecraft integration hardware and Ariane 5’s SYLDA 5 dual-payload dispenser system.

Surrounded by tall towers that provide protection from lightning strikes, the Ariane 5 is poised for liftoff.  This was the 183rd mission for an Ariane family vehicle, and Ariane 5’s 25th consecutive success.

Skynet 5C was the 30th military payload to choose Ariane, which previously orbited the Skynet 4B, 4C, 4E, 4F, 5A and 5B satellites for the British Ministry of Defence and NATO.  Turksat 3A was the fifth Turkish satellite launched by Ariane and the 53rd Thales Alenia Space-built platform orbited by Arianespace.

Ariane 5 makes a spectacular departure from the Spaceport, climbing through scattered clouds at sunset. Good visibility downrange allowed the launcher's dramatic solid rocket booster jettison and payload fairing separation to be seen by tracking cameras and the unaided eye.