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Ariane 5 reaches the launch zone for tomorrow’s dual-satellite mission
Arianespace has delivered another Ariane 5 to the launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, positioning the vehicle for liftoff on January 16 with two satellite passengers on board: EUTELSAT KONNECT and GSAT-30.
The Ariane 5 nears completion of its transfer from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone.
Riding atop a mobile launch table, Ariane 5 was transferred to the ELA-3 launch zone from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building – where its two passengers had been integrated as part of pre-flight preparations.
With the rollout completed, the final countdown will begin for Thursday’s liftoff at the start of a 1-hour, 55-minute launch window scheduled to open at 6:05 p.m. local time in French Guiana.
Sending satellites to GTO
For this 251st launch of an Ariane-series vehicle – designated Flight VA251 in Arianespace’s numbering system – the payload lift performance to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is approximately 7,888 kg. This combined total factors in EUTELSAT KONNECT and GSAT-30, plus the dual-passenger dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.
EUTELSAT KONNECT – which was produced by Thales Alenia Space for Eutelsat – is riding in the upper position of Ariane 5’s payload arrangement, to be released first in the flight sequence at 27 minutes following liftoff.
GSAT-30 was designed and manufactured by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and will be deployed from Ariane 5’s lower passenger position 38 minutes into the flight – completing the mission.
- A larger version of the photo above is available for downloading in the Gallery.
Launch window for Flight VA251:
| French Guiana | Washington, D.C. | UTC | Paris | New Delhi |
| Between 6:05 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 16 |
Between 4:05 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 16 |
Between 21:05 and 23:00 on Jan. 16 |
Between 10:05 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. on Jan. 16/17 |
Between 2:35 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 17 |
