Ariane 5 is ready for its December 19 rollout from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 Launch Zone at Europe’s Spaceport.   Visible in this photo is the Ariane 5’s payload fairing and the two feed arms that supply propellant to the launcher’s cryogenic upper stage.   The curved pathway leading from the Final Assembly Building is the dual-track rail system that is used to transfer Ariane 5 to the launch zone.

The Ariane 5 nears its final position in the ELA-3 Launch Zone during the December 19 transfer.  This launch vehicle was equipped with a long version of the Ariane 5’s protective payload fairing, which had a height of 17 meters. The fairing was jettisoned 3 min. 16 sec. into the flight after Ariane 5 climbed through the denser layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, clearing the way for a highly accurate deployment of HOT BIRD 9 and W2M.

This impressive view emphasizes the straightforward architecture of Ariane 5, which is designed for high reliability – with a streamlined propulsion system using a single main engine in the cryogenic core stage, along with two strap-on solid propellant boosters and the cryogenic upper stage engine.  Produced for Arianespace by prime contractor Astrium, the Ariane 5 used in tonight’s mission had a liftoff mass of approximately 777 metric tons.

Ariane 5 clears the launch tower during its ascent from the Spaceport on tonight’s successful launch.  The mission’s total lift performance was approximately 9,200 kg., which included the 8,340-kg. weight of the HOT BIRD 9 and W2M satellites, along with the SYLDA 5 dual-payload disperser system and integration hardware.