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:

More details are available in the VA251 launch kit: