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• February 3, 2012
  Vega Flight VV01:
  Vega's inaugural flight is set for February 13 at the Spaceport
• January 26, 2012
  Vega Flight VV01:
  Vega's first flight: Assembly is completed for the no. 1 launcher
• January 20, 2012
  Ariane Flight VA205:
  The third Automated Transfer Vehicle is fueled for its March launch on Ariane 5
• Archive

Mission Update

Photo report: Ariane 5's sunset launch with Arabsat-5A and COMS

Adding its own burst of light to a French Guiana sunset, the Ariane 5 with Arabsat-5A and COMS lifts off from the Spaceport.  This wide-angle image captures the movement of multiple umbilicals as they pull away from the launcher, being disconnected as planned by the Ariane 5’s upward movement during ascent.

June 26, 2010 – Ariane Flight 195

Today’s liftoff of Ariane 5 came during the French Guiana sunset, providing a picture-postcard setting for this latest on-target dual-payload launch for Arianespace.  Departing at 6:41 p.m. local time in French Guiana, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA vehicle deployed its Arabsat-5A and COMS satellite passengers into geostationary transfer orbit during a mission lasting 32 minutes.

These photos, taken from various camera positions at the Spaceport, highlights Ariane 5’s initial moments of its no. 2 launch of 2010. (Click on the images for a larger version):

The Ariane 5 is nearly clear of its mobile launch table’s umbilical mast during climbout from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch complex.  Surrounding the launch zone are four large towers that provide protection from lightning strikes. Arianespace’s June 26 mission with Ariane 5 marked the workhorse vehicle’s 51st liftoff from French Guiana.

Framed by palm trees, Ariane 5 gains altitude under the power of its Vulcain 2 cryogenic main engine and its two solid rocket boosters.  All three propulsion system elements are ignited prior to liftoff, beginning with the Vulcain 2 – whose operation is fully verified during seven seconds before the ignition command is given for the solid boosters.

• Read the Mission Update for a full report on this successful Ariane 5 mission.
• For more information on the successful flight, see the press release.
• Arianespace’s official launch kit has more information on this Ariane 5 mission.