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Mission Update

Ariane 5 returns to the launch zone with its Helios 2B satellite payload

December 16, 2009

Arianespace’s seventh and final Ariane 5 for 2009 is back on the launch pad today, starting the final countdown to a mid-day liftoff tomorrow.

The vehicle was transferred from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone this morning following corrective actions that were taken on the liquid helium subsystem in Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage.  This work was required after an anomaly occurred during the original final countdown on December 9.

For the year-ending mission, Helios 2B is a solo payload on Ariane 5, with the 4,200-kg. satellite to be deployed into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit.

Developed by France, Helios 2B will serve as the second platform in a new-generation spaceborne observation system for military applications.  It will be the third Helios-series spacecraft orbited by Arianespace, following Helios 2A in 2004, Helios 1B in 1999, and the launch of Helios 1A in 1995. 

• Arianespace’s official launch kit has more details on this Ariane 5 mission.