ARIANESPACE

Join us on a remarkable journey through the Ariane 6 launch pad, a marvel of engineering spanning 200 meters, equivalent to two football fields. This video offers an exclusive inside look at the intricate systems and structures of the Ariane 6 launch pad, showcasing the unique synergy of architecture and technology that distinguishes this European launcher.

Embark on a 27-year journey with Ariane 5, the rocket that stands as powerful as 10 Airbus A380s and as majestic as the Arc de Triomphe. From launching vital supplies to the ISS, unraveling Earth's secrets, guiding our world with Galileo, to peering into the universe's past with WEBB – Ariane 5 has shaped our connection to space. In numbers: 117 flights, supporting 30 nations, 945 tons airborne, and 239 satellites deployed. Experience heart-stopping liftoffs and view our planet from a unique vantage point. Driven by Arianespace's goal of "Using space for a better life on Earth," Ariane 5 has been able to conquer space thanks to its tremendous reliability, boasting a 96% success rate. Celebrate not just a rocket, but a legacy. Discover how Ariane 5 has transformed our world.

On Sunday, October 8 2023 at 22:36 p.m. local time (01:36 a.m. UTC), Arianespace’s Vega mission successfully liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying the optical observation satellite THEOS-2, the weather satellite FORMOSAT-7R TRITON, and ten auxiliary passengers. ”Congratulations to Arianespace teams and their partners, amongst them Avio, ESA and CNES, for this successful Vega launch, commented Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, after the separation of the last satellite. By delivering multiple satellites to orbit, Vega again has demonstrated its unique versatility. I wish to thank our customers, Airbus Defence and Space for Thailand, Taiwan Space Agency, and the operators and sponsors of the cubesats, amongst them the European Commission, for their trust.” ”We are very happy about the success of the mission, said Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio SpA. The joint work of Avio, Arianespace and ESA teams has allowed to leverage the Vega launcher, in order to minimize schedule changes for customers, demonstrating resilience and commitment.” After liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport, the Vega launcher flown powered by the first three stages for a little over six minutes before the separation of the upper stage from the third stage, ZEFIRO-9. The AVUM upper stage ignited twice before releasing simultaneously the two main satellites at an altitude of 601 km. Following two other ignitions of the AVUM, the ten cubesats composing the auxiliary payload all succesfully separated, thus marking the end of mission VV23, one hour, 43 minutes and 58 seconds after liftoff. A fifth and last AVUM ignition deorbited the launcher. With this launch, Vega successfully orbited: THEOS-2 (THailand Earth Observation System-2), a very-high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite, provided by Airbus Defence and Space to support the Kingdom of Thailand’s key development priorities. FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, an experimental satellite designed and manufactured by TASA (Taiwan Space Agency). FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON plays two roles: it is both a weather satellite and a scientific satellite. Regarding the cubesats for institutional missions and the European Commission, all separation commands were properly executed; the confirmation of the separation was acquired for 8 satellites; the separation of the last 2 cubesats is still to be confirmed. As prime contractor for the Vega, in charge of development and production, AVIO Spa (Colleferro, Italy) delivers a flightworthy launcher on the launch pad to Arianespace, which sells and operates the launcher from the Guiana Space Center (CSG). During the launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with CNES, the French space agency and the launch range authority at the European Spaceport in Kourou, who is notably looking after the satellite preparation facilities. The launch at a glance: • 348th launch overall for the Arianespace range of launcher • 21st flight of a Vega rocket launched by Arianespace • THEOS-2, FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, PRETTY, ESTCUBE-2, MACSAT, PVCC, N3SS, ANSER LEADER/ANSER FOLLOWER 1/ANSER FOLLOWER 2, CSC 1 and CSC 2 (Project-2) are the 1154th to 1165th satellites launched by Arianespace.

Sommaire : 00:00:00 Début du direct 00:01:07 48h avant 00:03:28 Phases clés du vol VV23 00:06:11 What About - FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON 00:09:23 What About - THEOS-2 00:12:40 What About - IOD/IOV 00:16:24 Direction le centre de contrôle de lancement Vega 00:17:54 Campagne de lancement VV23 00:21:03 Décollage de Vega 00:32:43 Interviews de l’équipe Spatiale Européenne 00:36:49 Moteur Vega E M10 00:37:51 Retour sur les phases clés de la mission 01:13:01 Commentaires sur le centre de contrôle visuel immédiat 01:15:43 Séparation de THEOS-2 et FORMOSAT-7R 01:17:40 Confirmation de la séparation des passagers principaux par Stéphane Israël, CEO Arianespace 01:19:30 Commentaires de fin 02:06:20 Début de la libération des cubesats 02:15:47 Fin du programme Le dimanche 8 octobre 2023 à 22h36 heure locale (01h36 UTC), le lanceur Vega opéré par Arianespace a décollé avec succès du port spatial européen de Kourou, en Guyane française, avec à son bord le satellite d’observation de la Terre THEOS-2, le satellite météorologique FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, ainsi que dix cubesats. « Bravo aux équipes d’Arianespace et à nos partenaires, au premier rang desquels Avio, l’ESA et le CNES, pour la réussite de ce lancement Vega, a déclaré Stéphane Israël, Président exécutif d’Arianespace, après la séparation du dernier satellite. En plaçant plusieurs satellites en orbite, Vega a une nouvelle fois démontré sa polyvalence unique. J’aimerais remercier nos clients, Airbus Defence and Space pour la Thaïlande, l’Agence spatiale taïwanaise, ainsi que les opérateurs et les sponsors des cubesats, dont la Commission européenne, pour leur confiance. » « Nous sommes très heureux du succès de cette mission, a déclaré Giulio Ranzo, CEO d’Avio SpA. Le travail conjoint des équipes d’Avio, d’Arianespace et de l’ESA a permis de tirer pleinement profit du lanceur Vega pour réduire au maximum l’impact des changements de calendrier pour les clients, démontrant à cette occasion résilience et engagement. » Après le décollage du Centre spatial guyanais (CSG) de Kourou, le vol des trois premiers étages de Vega a duré un peu plus de six minutes, avant la séparation de l’étage supérieur du troisième étage, ZEFIRO 9. L’étage supérieur AVUM s’est ensuite allumé à deux reprises avant d’injecter simultanément les deux principaux satellites, à 601 km d’altitude. Après deux autres allumages d’AVUM, les dix cubesats se sont séparés avec succès du dispenseur SSMS, marquant la fin de la mission VV23, une heure, 43 minutes et 58 secondes après le décollage. Un cinquième et dernier allumage d’AVUM a permis de désorbiter cet élément du lanceur. Avec ce lancement, Vega a placé avec succès un total de 12 satellites en orbite, confirmant une fois de plus l’expertise d’Arianespace dans la fourniture de services de lancement à la fois sur mesure et standardisés : THEOS-2 (THailand Earth Observation System-2), un satellite d’observation optique de la Terre à très haute résolution, fourni par Airbus Defence and Space pour soutenir les priorités de développement clés du Royaume de Thaïlande. FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, un satellite expérimental conçu et fabriqué par l’Agence spatiale taïwanaise (TASA) pour remplir deux missions : l’une météorologique, l’autre scientifique. S'agissant des 10 cubesats servant des missions institutionnelles et la Commission européenne, tous les ordres de séparation ont été donnés. La confirmation de séparation a été acquise pour huit d’entre eux, deux restent en attente de confirmation. En tant que maître d’œuvre de Vega, en charge de son développement et de sa production, AVIO Spa (Colleferro, Italie) livre sur le pas de tir un lanceur « prêt à voler » à Arianespace, qui le commercialise et l’opère depuis le port spatial européen de Kourou, en Guyane française. Au cours des campagnes de lancement, Arianespace travaille en étroite collaboration avec le Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES), qui est l’autorité de gestion de la base et des installations de préparation des satellites. Le lancement en faits et chiffres : • 348ème vol d’un lanceur de la gamme Arianespace • 21ème vol d’un lanceur Vega opéré par Arianespace • THEOS-2, FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, PRETTY, ESTCUBE-2, MACSAT, PVCC, N3SS, ANSER LEADER/ANSER FOLLOWER 1/ANSER FOLLOWER 2, CSC-1 & -2 sont les 1154ème à 1165ème satellites lancés par Arianespace.

Summary: 00:00:00 Start of the livestream 00:01:07 What happened 48H ago 00:03:28 Key phases of the VV23 flight 00:06:11 What About - FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON 00:09:23 What About - THEOS-2 00:12:40 What About - IOD/IOV 00:16:24 Let’s go to Vega launch control center 00:17:54 VV23 launch campaign 00:21:03 Vega Lift-off 00:32:43 Space Team Europe ITWs 00:36:49 Vega E M10 engine 00:37:51 Replay of mission’s key phases 01:13:01 Remarks about Quick-look telemetry (CVI) 01:15:43 THEOS-2 & FORMOSAT-7R separation 01:17:40 Main passengers separation confirmation by Stéphane Israël, CEO Arianespace 01:19:30 Closing remarks 02:06:20 Start of Cubesat release 02:15:47 End of the program On Sunday, October 8 2023 at 22:36 p.m. local time (01:36 a.m. UTC), Arianespace’s Vega mission successfully liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying the optical observation satellite THEOS-2, the weather satellite FORMOSAT-7R TRITON, and ten auxiliary passengers. ”Congratulations to Arianespace teams and their partners, amongst them Avio, ESA and CNES, for this successful Vega launch, commented Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, after the separation of the last satellite. By delivering multiple satellites to orbit, Vega again has demonstrated its unique versatility. I wish to thank our customers, Airbus Defence and Space for Thailand, Taiwan Space Agency, and the operators and sponsors of the cubesats, amongst them the European Commission, for their trust.” ”We are very happy about the success of the mission, said Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio SpA. The joint work of Avio, Arianespace and ESA teams has allowed to leverage the Vega launcher, in order to minimize schedule changes for customers, demonstrating resilience and commitment.” After liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport, the Vega launcher flown powered by the first three stages for a little over six minutes before the separation of the upper stage from the third stage, ZEFIRO-9. The AVUM upper stage ignited twice before releasing simultaneously the two main satellites at an altitude of 601 km. Following two other ignitions of the AVUM, the ten cubesats composing the auxiliary payload all succesfully separated, thus marking the end of mission VV23, one hour, 43 minutes and 58 seconds after liftoff. A fifth and last AVUM ignition deorbited the launcher. With this launch, Vega successfully orbited: THEOS-2 (THailand Earth Observation System-2), a very-high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite, provided by Airbus Defence and Space to support the Kingdom of Thailand’s key development priorities. FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, an experimental satellite designed and manufactured by TASA (Taiwan Space Agency). FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON plays two roles: it is both a weather satellite and a scientific satellite. Regarding the cubesats for institutional missions and the European Commission, all separation commands were properly executed; the confirmation of the separation was acquired for 8 satellites; the separation of the last 2 cubesats is still to be confirmed. As prime contractor for the Vega, in charge of development and production, AVIO Spa (Colleferro, Italy) delivers a flightworthy launcher on the launch pad to Arianespace, which sells and operates the launcher from the Guiana Space Center (CSG). During the launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with CNES, the French space agency and the launch range authority at the European Spaceport in Kourou, who is notably looking after the satellite preparation facilities. The launch at a glance: • 348th launch overall for the Arianespace range of launcher • 21st flight of a Vega rocket launched by Arianespace • THEOS-2, FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, PRETTY, ESTCUBE-2, MACSAT, PVCC, N3SS, ANSER LEADER/ANSER FOLLOWER 1/ANSER FOLLOWER 2, CSC 1 and CSC 2 (Project-2) are the 1154th to 1165th satellites launched by Arianespace.

La prochaine mission d’Arianespace est prévue le jeudi 6 octobre 2023 à 22h36 heure locale (01h36 UTC) depuis le port spatial européen de Kourou, en Guyane française, avec un lanceur Vega. Cette mission, désignée VV23, placera ses deux satellites en orbite héliosynchrone. Cette mission emportera un passager principal, THEOS-2, et un secondaire, FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON : THEOS-2 est un satellite d’observation optique de la Terre à haute résolution, partie intégrante du système national de géo-information de prochaine génération fourni par Airbus Defence and Space pour soutenir les priorités de développement clés du Royaume de Thaïlande. En délivrant des images de 0,5 mètre de résolution au sol, ce système global complètera THEOS-1, lancé en 2008 au profit de la Thaïlande, l’une des rares nations au monde à pouvoir exploiter pleinement les données géospatiales à des fins sociétales. FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, développé par l’Agence spatiale taïwanaise (TASA), est doté d’un système de réflectométrie GNSS, ou GNSS-R (Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry), qui collecte les signaux rebondissant à la surface de la mer. Il aidera les scientifiques à calculer les champs de vent au-dessus des océans. Ces données seront partagées avec la communauté météorologique mondiale, afin de contribuer à prévoir l’intensité et la trajectoire des typhons. Cette 21ème mission du lanceur léger européen Vega placera également en orbite dix charges utiles auxiliaires au profit de six clients différents : ANSER (Advanced Nanosatellite Systems for Earth observation Research) LEADER, ANSER FOLLOWER 1 et ANSER FOLLOWER 2. Ce cluster de trois cubesats, qui fonctionneront de concert pour étudier et surveiller la qualité des eaux de surface (réservoirs) de toute la péninsule ibérique, est un programme de démonstration et validation en orbite (IOD/IOV) mené par l’Institut national espagnol de technique aérospatiale (INTA) de la Commission européenne. ESTCube-2, fabriqué par l’Université de Tartu, en Estonie, vise à démontrer une technologie de freinage à plasma pour les manœuvres de désorbitation et à qualifier une plateforme de nanosat d’exploration lointaine utilisant une voile électrique devant interagir avec le vent solaire (E-sail). NESS (Nanosat 3U) est un démonstrateur de validation en orbite de technologies miniaturisées pour la détection et la localisation de sources de brouillage radiofréquence. Le CNES est responsable du système et du développement du satellite, ainsi que de ses opérations en orbite. U-Space est maître d’œuvre du développement de la plateforme et des phases d’assemblage, intégration, test et validation (AIT/AIV) du satellite. Syrlinks a développé la charge utile. PRETTY (Passive REflecTomeTry and dosimetrY) sera lancé pour le compte de SAB-LS. C'est un cubesat avec une charge utile primaire équipée d'un réflectomètre passif dans la bande L5 pour GPS et Galileo. MACSAT est un satellite qui appartient à l'opérateur OQ Technlogy basé au Luxembourg, il démontrera l'avancée Technologique de la 5G IoT et fournira un service de connectivité commerciale. PVCC (Proba-V Companion Cubesat) est un cubesat 12U destiné à tester les performances de la charge utile d’une plateforme de cubesat, afin de fournir des données d’aide à l’étalonnage des missions d’observation de la Terre des cubesats. PVCC est une mission de l’ESA menée par l’ESA/TEC pour la conception, le lancement et les phases de mise en service, ainsi que par l’ESA/ESRIN et l’ESA/REDU pour les phases d’exploitation et de fin de vie. CSC-1 & 2 sont deux cubesats 6UXL multi-charges utiles (venant de Belgique, Espagne, Estonie, France et République Tchèque) de démonstration en orbite. Ils font partie d’un programme de démonstration et validation en orbite (IOD/IOV), et pour lequel ISISPACE/ISL est responsable de la mise en œuvre de la mission. Ces petits satellites seront transportés comme charges utiles auxiliaires sur le dispenseur SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service). Le service de lancement partagé SSMS, développé avec le soutien de l’industrie spatiale européenne, a été mis en œuvre pour la première fois par Arianespace en septembre 2020. Financé par l’ESA, le service SSMS d’Arianespace sera bientôt complété par le MLS (Multiple Launch Service), une offre similaire conçue pour Ariane 6. Grâce à ces deux services, Arianespace pourra multiplier les opportunités de lancements à coût abordable pour les petits satellites et les constellations. Réunissant 10 pays européens, le programme Vega a été développé sous la direction de l’ESA, avec l’Agence spatiale italienne (ASI) en premier contributeur et Avio Spa (Colleferro, Italie) en tant que maître d’œuvre. L’entreprise est responsable de toutes les opérations industrielles jusqu’au décollage. Depuis son vol inaugural en 2012, Vega fait partie de la famille de lanceurs opérée par Arianespace.

Arianespace’s next mission is targeted on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 10:36 p.m. local time (October 7, at 01:36 a.m. UTC), from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana with a Vega launcher. The mission, called VV23, will place its passengers into sun-synchronous orbit. This mission will embark a main passenger, THEOS-2, and a secondary one, FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON: THEOS-2 is a high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite, part of the next-generation national geo-information system provided by Airbus Defence and Space to support the Kingdom of Thailand’s key development priorities. Delivering 0.5-meter ground resolution imagery, this end to end system will complement THEOS-1, launched in 2008 for Thailand, one of the few nations in the world able to fully exploit geo-information for societal benefits. FORMOSAT-7R/TRITON, developed by the Taiwanese Space Agency (TASA), is equipped with the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R), which collects signals that bounce off the sea surface. It helps scientists calculate the wind field over the oceans. This data will be shared with the global meteorology community, contributing to the forecast of typhoon intensity and trajectory. The 21st mission of Europe’s Vega light launcher will also orbit ten auxiliary payloads for six different clients: ANSER (Advanced Nanosatellite Systems for Earth observation Research) LEADER, ANSER FOLLOWER 1 and ANSER FOLLOWER 2. This cluster of three cubestats working together to study and monitor the quality of inland (reservoirs) water over Iberian Peninsula is led by the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aerospacial. The launch services is funded by the IOD/IOV program of the European Union. ESTCube-2, manufactured by the University of Tartu (Estonia), aims to demonstrate deorbiting with plasma brake technology and qualify a deep-space nanospacecraft platform for future missions that will use the electric solar wind sail. The launch services for this mission is funded by the IOD/IOV program of the European Union. NESS (Nanosat 3U) is an in-orbit validation demonstrator of miniaturized technologies for the detection and localization of sources of radio frequency interference. CNES is responsible for the satellite system and development, as well as its in-orbit operations. U-Space is the prime contractor for the development of the platform and the assembly, integration, test and validation (AIT/AIV) phases of the satellite. Syrlinks developed the payload. PRETTY (Passive REflecTomeTry and dosimetrY) will be launched on behalf of SAB-LS. It’s a 3U cubesat with a primary payload equipped with a passive reflectometer in the L5 Band for GPS and Galileo. MACSAT is a 6U satellite that belongs to the Luxembourg based operator OQ Technology, it will demonstrate advanced 5G IoT technologies and provide commercial connectivity service. PVCC (Proba-V Companion Cubesat), a 12U cubesat aiming at testing the performance of the payload on a cubesat platform in order to provide data to support the calibration of cubesat Earth observation missions. PVCC is an ESA mission lead by ESA/TEC for the design, launch and commissioning phases and by ESA/ESRIN and ESA/REDU for the operational and end-of-life phases. CSC-1 & 2, two 6UXL multi-payload IOD cubesats aggregating 7 payloads from 5 countries: Belgium, Spain, Estonia, France and Czechia. They are part of the European Union IOD/IOV program for which ISISPACE/ISL is responsible for the mission implementation. These small satellites will be carried as auxiliary payloads on the innovative Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) deployment system. The SSMS rideshare service, developed with the support of the European space industry, was first deployed by Arianespace in September 2020. Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), Arianespace’s SSMS service will soon be joined by the Multiple Launch Service (MLS), a similar offering designed for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. With these two services, Arianespace can offer a wide range of affordable launch opportunities for small satellites and constellations. Ten European countries contribute to Vega, which was developed by ESA, with the Italian Space Agency ASI as lead contributor and Avio (based in Colleferro, Italy) as the launcher prime contractor. Avio is in charge of all industrial operations up to liftoff. Vega has been part of the Arianespace launcher family since its first flight in 2012.

Travel through time and space with Arianespace. Celebrating over 43 years of continuous service to the global space community, this latest corporate movie takes you on a journey from the beginnings of the Ariane Program in 1973 to the modern, eco-innovative Guiana Space Center and the game-changing Ariane 6 and Vega C launch vehicles. Timeline Highlights: - Flash back to 1979 for Ariane's inaugural flight and its pioneering role in commercial space access. - Witness how Arianespace has continually evolved its Ariane family of launchers, from Ariane 1's early commercial missions to Ariane 5's mastery in heavy-lift precision and reliability. - Learn about the Guiana Space Center, a world-class spaceport enhanced with modern eco-innovations and strategically placed near the equator for optimal launches. Innovations and Services: - Experience Arianespace's customer-centric approach, marked by flexibility, versatility, and cost-efficiency. - Discover Ariane 6's unique features, such as restartable Vinci upper stage engines with Auxiliary Power Units and the innovative P120C Boosters shared with Vega C. - A sneak peek into Ariane 6's next-level upgrades aimed at taking payloads even further into space. Global Impact: - Serving 50+ countries, orbiting over 1100 satellites, and meeting the specialized needs of over 150 customers. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look at Arianespace's 43-year journey of continuous service and innovation. Your destination? Space.

On July 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. local time, Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, lifted off flawlessly from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit for the German government and SYRACUSE 4B for the French Ministry of Defence.. The Heinrich-Hertz-Mission is the first dedicated German telecommunications satellite-based mission that will be used to conduct research and to test new technologies and telecommunications scenarios. The technologies on board are meant to respond smartly and flexibly to future challenges, to support future telecommunications scenarios and to be adapted from Earth to address new technical requirements and market needs. The mission is managed by the German Space Agency on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and with the participation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg). The Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit was mainly developed and built by OHB System. The SYRACUSE 4B satellite is part of the SYRACUSE IV program carried out under the leadership of the DGA in collaboration with the French Air and Space Force, and for the Space Command (CdE). Together with SYRACUSE 4A, it will enable French armed forces to remain permanently connected when they are deployed on operations. At sea, in the air, or on land, the armed forces need powerful and secure communications systems to be able to exchange information with theIr command center. Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment including an anti-jamming antenna and a digital onboard processor, SYRACUSE 4B will be fully protected against the most severe military threats. It will help guarantee French national sovereignty while also supporting NATO operations. Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space joined forces to develop the SYRACUSE 4A and SYRACUSE 4B satellites so that the program could benefit fully from their combined expertise. . “This 117th and last Ariane 5 mission is emblematic in several respects. Ariane 5 has just deployed two telecommunications satellites, SYRACUSE 4B and Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit, for France and Germany, the first two contributors to the Ariane program,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace. “This mission is also emblematic of Ariane 5’s ability to perform dual launches, which constitutes the very core of its success, with 197 satellites placed in geostationary orbit out of a total of 239 satellites deployed. Over its career, Ariane 5 has served 65 institutional and commercial customers from 30 countries. Ariane 5’s success heralds a promising career for Ariane 6.” This launch also marks the end of the remarkable career of the HM7 upper stage engine, which flew on the first Ariane 1 and on the final Ariane 5. It helped power Ariane launchers 228 times, without ever failing. This veteran of spaceflight has been a crucial element in the European space adventure. It will be replaced on Ariane 6 by the re-ignitable Vinci engine. “Ariane 5 is now taking its place in the annals of global space history. This final successful mission demonstrates once again its supreme reliability in the service of European autonomy and rounds off an exceptional career distinguished by a succession of technological and industrial achievements. I share the emotion of all the employees at ArianeGroup, Arianespace, the French and European space agencies CNES and ESA, and all our European partners, who have contributed to its success over the course of these 27 years,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup. “Together we are now taking up the challenge of Ariane 6, the beneficiary of the experience acquired with Ariane 5. It will be able to evolve and play a full role in guaranteeing independent, sustainable access to space for Europe, in a context of major strategic, economic and environmental challenges, to meet the needs of its institutional and commercial customers.” Leading up to its inaugural flight, Ariane 6 is currently passing a series of key milestones in Europe and in French Guiana. Even more versatile and competitive, Ariane 6 will carry out its first missions with a rapid production ramp-up, supporting Europe’s institutional missions and meeting the swiftly growing demands of the commercial market. The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is an ESA program carried out in cooperation between public institutions and industry across 12 European partner states. ArianeGroup is the lead contractor for the development and production of the Ariane family of launchers. It is responsible for Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 preparation operations up to lift-off. ArianeGroup delivers a flight-ready launcher on the launch pad to its subsidiary Arianespace, which markets and operates Ariane 5 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. During Ariane 5 launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with the French space agency (CNES), the design authority for the launcher and responsible for the satellite preparation facilities and the launch base.

Le 5 juillet 2023 à 19h00 heure locale, Ariane 5, opéré par Arianespace, a décollé avec succès du port spatial européen de Kourou, en Guyane française, avec à son bord Heinrich-Hertz pour le Gouvernement allemand et SYRACUSE 4B pour le ministère des Armées français. Le satellite Heinrich-Hertz est la première mission allemande dédiée à la recherche et à l’expérimentation de nouvelles technologies et moyens de télécommunications en orbite. Les technologies embarquées permettront de développer des réponses agiles et flexibles aux nouveaux défis liés aux communications satellitaires, de soutenir la mise en place opérationnelle des futurs scénarios de communication et ce tout en les adaptant depuis la Terre pour répondre aux exigences techniques et commerciales de demain. La mission est gérée par l’Agence spatiale allemande (DLR) au nom du ministère fédéral de l’Économie et de la Protection du climat (BMWK), avec la participation du ministère fédéral de la Défense (BMVg). Le satellite Heinrich-Hertz a été majoritairement développé et fabriqué par OHB System. La satellite SYRACUSE 4B fait partie du programme d’armement SYRACUSE IV, conduit sous la maîtrise d’ouvrage de la DGA en collaboration avec l’armée de l’Air et de l’Espace et le Commandement de l'espace. Avec SYRACUSE 4A, il permettra aux armées françaises de rester connectées en permanence lors de leurs déploiements. En mer, dans les airs ou sur terre, les militaires ont besoin de puissants moyens de communications sécurisées pour pouvoir échanger des informations avec les centres de commandement. Grâce à des équipements de pointe (antenne active et processeur numérique de bord), SYRACUSE 4B sera protégé contre les principales agressions. Ce satellite au service de la souveraineté française soutiendra également les opérations de l’OTAN. Pour développer SYRACUSE 4A et SYRACUSE 4B, Airbus Defence and Space et Thales Alenia Space ont uni leurs forces pour apporter leur expertise à ce programme.de dernière génération. « Cette 117ème et dernière mission d’Ariane 5, est emblématique à plusieurs titres. Ariane 5 vient de déployer deux satellites de télécommunications, SYRACUSE 4B et Heinrich-Hertz, pour le compte de la France et de l’Allemagne, les deux premiers contributeurs au programme Ariane, » a déclaré Stéphane Israël, Président exécutif d’Arianespace. « Cette mission est également emblématique de la capacité d’Ariane 5 de réaliser des lancements doubles, qui ont été au cœur de son succès avec 197 satellites placés en orbite géostationnaire sur un total de 239 déployés. Au moment où elle tire sa révérence, Ariane 5 aura servi 65 clients institutionnels et commerciaux originaires de 30 pays différents. Ses succès préfigurent la carrière prometteuse d’Ariane 6. » Ce lancement boucle également la carrière exceptionnelle du moteur HM7 de l’étage supérieur d’Ariane 5. Ce moteur a volé sur la première Ariane 1, et sur la dernière Ariane 5. Il aura contribué 228 fois à propulser le lanceur Ariane, sans jamais échouer. Le vétéran de la conquête spatiale aura été un outil essentiel de l’aventure européenne et sera remplacé par le moteur ré-allumable Vinci sur Ariane 6. « Ariane 5 vient d’entrer dans l’Histoire spatiale mondiale. Ce dernier succès démontre une fois encore son extrême fiabilité au service de la souveraineté européenne et clôt une carrière exceptionnelle marquée par une succession d’exploits technologiques et industriels. Je partage l’émotion de tous les employés d’ArianeGroup, d’Arianespace, du CNES et de l’ESA ainsi que tous nos partenaires européens, qui ont contribué à son succès au cours de ces vingt-sept années », a déclaré Martin Sion, Président exécutif d’ArianeGroup. « C’est ensemble que nous relevons aujourd’hui le défi d’Ariane 6 qui bénéficiera de l’expérience acquise par Ariane 5. Elle saura elle aussi évoluer et prendre toute sa place pour garantir à l’Europe un accès autonome et durable à l’espace dans un contexte de grands défis stratégiques, économiques et environnementaux afin de répondre aux besoins des clients institutionnels et commerciaux. » Ariane 6 franchit actuellement des jalons clés en Guyane comme en Europe vers son vol inaugural. Plus polyvalente et compétitive, Ariane 6 effectuera ses premières missions avec une montée en cadence rapide au bénéfice des missions institutionnelles de l’Europe et des besoins, en forte croissance, du marché commercial. Le lanceur lourd Ariane 5 est un programme de l’Agence spatiale européenne (ESA), mené en coopération par l’industrie et les institutions publiques à travers 12 états européens partenaires. ArianeGroup est maître d’œuvre du développement et de la production de la famille de lanceur Ariane.

Summary: 00:00:00 Start of the livestream 00:00:01 Previously on Road to Space VA261 00:01:04 Show Intro 00:03:29 Mission status update with Stéphane Israël, CEO Arianespace 00:07:12 Key phases of the VA261 flight 00:09:35 What about Heinrich-Hertz Mission 00:11:58 What about Syracuse 4B 00:16:36 Go Ariane with Philippe Baptiste, President, CNES 00:20:58 Operational teams at Ariane 5 launch control center 00:24:19 Ariane 5, The Legend 00:29:42 Ariane 5 Lift-off 00:40:36 Space Team Europe 00:42:35 ITW with Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of Space Transportation, ESA 00:44:39 ITW Inside Ariane 6 launch pad 00:59:49 Heinrich-Hertz Satellit separation 01:03:30 Syracuse 4B separation 01:07:34 Mission success confirmation by Stéphane Israël, CEO Arianespace 01:10:43 Closing remarks from Peter Gräf, Director, DLR 01:12:09 Closing remarks from Alexander Schneider, Program Lead Heinrich Hertz, OHB 01:14:13 Closing remarks from Michel Sayegh, Major-General, DUM for Space, DGA 01:16:15 Closing remarks from François Gaullier, SVP Telecommunications, Airbus DS 01:18:20 Closing remarks from Jean-Baptiste Tinturier, Director Military Telecommunications, TAS 01:22:51 End of the program On July 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. local time, Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, lifted off flawlessly from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit for the German government and SYRACUSE 4B for the French Ministry of Defence.. The Heinrich-Hertz-Mission is the first dedicated German telecommunications satellite-based mission that will be used to conduct research and to test new technologies and telecommunications scenarios. The technologies on board are meant to respond smartly and flexibly to future challenges, to support future telecommunications scenarios and to be adapted from Earth to address new technical requirements and market needs. The mission is managed by the German Space Agency on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and with the participation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg). The Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit was mainly developed and built by OHB System. The SYRACUSE 4B satellite is part of the SYRACUSE IV program carried out under the leadership of the DGA in collaboration with the French Air and Space Force, and for the Space Command (CdE). Together with SYRACUSE 4A, it will enable French armed forces to remain permanently connected when they are deployed on operations. At sea, in the air, or on land, the armed forces need powerful and secure communications systems to be able to exchange information with theIr command center. Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment including an anti-jamming antenna and a digital onboard processor, SYRACUSE 4B will be fully protected against the most severe military threats. It will help guarantee French national sovereignty while also supporting NATO operations. Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space joined forces to develop the SYRACUSE 4A and SYRACUSE 4B satellites so that the program could benefit fully from their combined expertise. . “This 117th and last Ariane 5 mission is emblematic in several respects. Ariane 5 has just deployed two telecommunications satellites, SYRACUSE 4B and Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit, for France and Germany, the first two contributors to the Ariane program,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace. “This mission is also emblematic of Ariane 5’s ability to perform dual launches, which constitutes the very core of its success, with 197 satellites placed in geostationary orbit out of a total of 239 satellites deployed. Over its career, Ariane 5 has served 65 institutional and commercial customers from 30 countries. Ariane 5’s success heralds a promising career for Ariane 6.” This launch also marks the end of the remarkable career of the HM7 upper stage engine, which flew on the first Ariane 1 and on the final Ariane 5. It helped power Ariane launchers 228 times, without ever failing. This veteran of spaceflight has been a crucial element in the European space adventure. It will be replaced on Ariane 6 by the re-ignitable Vinci engine. “Ariane 5 is now taking its place in the annals of global space history. This final successful mission demonstrates once again its supreme reliability in the service of European autonomy and rounds off an exceptional career distinguished by a succession of technological and industrial achievements. I share the emotion of all the employees at ArianeGroup, Arianespace, the French and European space agencies CNES and ESA, and all our European partners, who have contributed to its success over the course of these 27 years,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup.

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► Subscribe to our channel to keep on touch on our futur contents: https://www.youtube.com/c/arianespace/featured ► Follow this link to discover the world of Arianespace: https://www.arianespace.com ► Find us also on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArianeGroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianespace/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/arianespace LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arianespace_2/

On Friday, April 14, 2023 at 09:14 am local time, an Ariane 5 launcher, operated by Arianespace, successfully lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying the European Space Agency (ESA) JUICE space probe. The spacecraft, built by Airbus Defence and Space for ESA, will carry out Europe’s first mission to Jupiter. It will spend at least three years making detailed observations of the planet’s icy moons: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, which will arrived in july 2031. JUICE will study the moons as potential habitats for life, addressing two key questions: what are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life, and how does the solar system work? Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said: “Arianespace is honored to have been entrusted with this launch, the first European mission to Jupiter, and to play a part in expanding our understanding of the solar system and the necessary conditions for the emergence of life. In preparing for this mission, we have worked hand in hand with ESA, Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup, and French space agency CNES. I take this opportunity to thank all the teams who have given so much for 10 years to bring us to today’s successful result. And good luck to JUICE for the incredible journey it is about to embark on!” “With the successful launch of the JUICE space probe, Ariane 5 has once again made its contribution to European space history. This exceptional mission benefited twice over from ArianeGroup’s expertise: we not only built and prepared Ariane 5 for this mission, but we are also involved in the JUICE spacecraft as we developed, supplied, and tested the entire propulsion system which will enable the probe to make its eight-year journey to Jupiter. I want to thank the teams from ArianeGroup and Arianespace, together with all our European partners, for this latest success of the Ariane launcher. Our launcher’s high reliability is due to the unfailing cooperation between the industry, ESA, and CNES, the guarantee of Europe’s independent access to space,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup. The propulsion system for the JUICE spacecraft was developed, built, and integrated in Germany by ArianeGroup’s Orbital Propulsion teams, and comprises the 400 N main engine to be used for Jupiter orbit injection, 20 small thrusters, and two titanium propellant tanks. After this mission, one Ariane 5 launch remains before Ariane 6 takes up the baton, supporting Europe’s institutional missions and meeting the rapidly growing needs of the commercial market. The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is an ESA program carried out in cooperation between public institutions and industry across 12 European partner countries. ArianeGroup is the lead contractor for the development and production of Ariane 5, as well as being responsible for launcher preparation operations up to lift-off. As prime contractor for Ariane 5 and Ariane 6, in charge of development and production, ArianeGroup is at the head of a vast industrial network of more than 600 companies, including 350 small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). ArianeGroup delivers a flight-ready launcher on the launch pad to its subsidiary Arianespace, which markets and operates Ariane 5 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. During launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with the French space agency (CNES), the design authority for Ariane 5 and responsible for the satellite preparation facilities and the launch base. THE LAUNCH AT A GLANCE: - 346th launch operated by Arianespace - More than 1150 satellites launched by Arianespace - 1st launch operated by Arianespace in 2023 - 116th Ariane 5 launch from the CSG - 6058kg is the total payload carried by the launched for this mission - 90th consecutive launch with nominal operation of the Vulcain 2 main stage engine - 116th consecutive launch with nominal operation of the solid boosters - 156tth consecutive launch with nominal operation of the HM7B upper stage engine

Le vendredi 14 avril 2023 à 9h14 heure locale, un lanceur Ariane 5 opéré par Arianespace a décollé avec succès du port spatial européen de Kourou, en Guyane française, avec à son bord la sonde spatiale JUICE de l’Agence Spatiale Européenne (ESA). La sonde, fabriquée par Airbus Defence and Space pour le compte de l’ESA, sera la première mission européenne d’exploration du système jovien. Elle passera au moins trois ans à observer en détail trois de ses lunes glacées, Europe, Ganymède et Callisto, qu’elle rejoindra à partir de juillet 2031. JUICE étudiera les lunes comme de potentiels habitats pour la vie en répondant à deux questions fondamentales : quelles sont les conditions de formation des planètes et d’émergence de la vie ? Comment le système solaire fonctionne-t-il ? Stéphane Israël, Président exécutif d’Arianespace a déclaré : « C’est un honneur pour Arianespace d’avoir procédé à ce lancement emblématique, première mission de l’Europe à destination du système jovien, et de pouvoir ainsi contribuer à l’amélioration de notre compréhension du système solaire et des conditions nécessaires à la formation de la vie. Nous avons travaillé main dans la main avec l’ESA, Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup et le CNES pour préparer cette mission. Je tiens à remercier toutes les équipes qui se sont mobilisées depuis 10 ans pour ce succès. Et bon vent à JUICE pour l’incroyable voyage qu’elle va à présent engager ! » « Avec la réussite du lancement de JUICE, Ariane 5 contribue une fois de plus à l’histoire spatiale européenne. Cette extraordinaire mission d’exploration bénéficie du savoir-faire d’ArianeGroup à double titre. En plus du lanceur, nos équipes ont également contribué à JUICE en fournissant le système de propulsion qui va permettre à la sonde spatiale de faire son voyage d’environ huit ans jusqu’à Jupiter. Je voudrais féliciter les équipes d’ArianeGroup, d’Arianespace et de l’ensemble de nos partenaires Européens pour ce nouveau succès d’Ariane. La fiabilité de ce lanceur est le fruit d’une coopération sans faille entre les industriels, l’ESA et le CNES pour assurer l’accès autonome de notre continent à l’espace », a déclaré Martin Sion, Président exécutif d’ArianeGroup. Développé, réalisé et intégré en Allemagne par les équipes Propulsion Orbitale d'ArianeGroup, le système de propulsion de la sonde spatiale JUICE comprend le moteur principal de 400 Newton qui sera utilisé pour l'injection sur l'orbite de Jupiter, ainsi que 20 petits propulseurs et deux réservoirs d'ergols en titane. Au terme de cette mission, il ne restera qu’une Ariane 5 à lancer, avant qu’Ariane 6 ne prenne le relais, au bénéfice des missions institutionnelles de l’Europe et des besoins, en forte croissance, du marché commercial. Le lanceur lourd Ariane 5 est un programme de l’Agence spatiale européenne (ESA), mené en coopération par l’industrie et les institutions publiques à travers 12 états européens partenaires. ArianeGroup est le maître d’œuvre du développement et de la production d’Ariane 5, et est responsable des opérations de préparation du lanceur jusqu’à son décollage. En tant que maître d’œuvre industriel du développement et de la production d’Ariane 5, ArianeGroup est à la tête d’un réseau de plus de 600 sociétés, dont 350 petites et moyennes entreprises (PME). ArianeGroup livre un lanceur « apte au vol » sur son pas de tir à sa filiale Arianespace, qui commercialise et opère Ariane 5 depuis le Centre spatial guyanais (CSG), en Guyane française. Lors des campagnes de lancement, Arianespace travaille étroitement avec le CNES, autorité de conception du lanceur Ariane 5 et responsable des installations de préparation des satellites, ainsi que de la base de lancement. LE LANCEMENT EN FAITS ET CHIFFRES : - 346ème lancement opéré par Arianespace - Plus de 1150 satellites lancés par Arianespace - 1er lancement Ariane 5 opéré par Arianespace en 2023 - 116ème lancement d'Ariane 5 depuis le CSG - 6058kg, c'est la masse totale de la charge utile au lancement de cette mission - 90ème lancement consécutif avec fonctionnement nominal du moteur de l'étage principal Vulcain 2 - 116ème lancement consécutif avec fonctionnement nominal des étages d'accélération à poudre (EAP)

. Summary: 00:00:00 Start of the livestream 00:02:28 Mission status update with Stéphane Israël, CEO Arianespace 00:06:40 Juice readiness review with Mihaela Barbu, Juice schedule controller, ESA 00:09:30 What about Juice 00:11:53 ITW with Thomas Pesquet and Matthias Maurer, ESA astronauts 00:16:52 ITW with Joseph Aschbacher, Director General, ESA 00:18:08 Key phases of the VA260 flight 00:21:42 Operational teams at Ariane 5 launch control center 00:24:47 VA260 launch campaign 00:29:51 Ariane 5 Lift-off 00:40:49 Ariane 6 program update 00:44:49 Next Tech Juice 00:49:45 Space Team Europe 00:57:43 Juice separation 01:01:36 Mission success confirmation by Stéphane Israël, CEO Arianespace 01:20:19 Juice acquisition 01:48:36 Solar panel deployment confirmation 01:52:13 Closing remarks from Joseph Aschbacher, Director General, ESA 02:20:05 End of the program 02:38:43 Post-launch press conference On Friday, April 14, 2023 at 09:14 am local time, an Ariane 5 launcher, operated by Arianespace, successfully lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying the European Space Agency (ESA) JUICE space probe. The spacecraft, built by Airbus Defence and Space for ESA, will carry out Europe’s first mission to Jupiter. It will spend at least three years making detailed observations of the planet’s icy moons: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, which will arrived in july 2031. JUICE will study the moons as potential habitats for life, addressing two key questions: what are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life, and how does the solar system work? Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said: “Arianespace is honored to have been entrusted with this launch, the first European mission to Jupiter, and to play a part in expanding our understanding of the solar system and the necessary conditions for the emergence of life. In preparing for this mission, we have worked hand in hand with ESA, Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup, and French space agency CNES. I take this opportunity to thank all the teams who have given so much for 10 years to bring us to today’s successful result. And good luck to JUICE for the incredible journey it is about to embark on!” “With the successful launch of the JUICE space probe, Ariane 5 has once again made its contribution to European space history. This exceptional mission benefited twice over from ArianeGroup’s expertise: we not only built and prepared Ariane 5 for this mission, but we are also involved in the JUICE spacecraft as we developed, supplied, and tested the entire propulsion system which will enable the probe to make its eight-year journey to Jupiter. I want to thank the teams from ArianeGroup and Arianespace, together with all our European partners, for this latest success of the Ariane launcher. Our launcher’s high reliability is due to the unfailing cooperation between the industry, ESA, and CNES, the guarantee of Europe’s independent access to space,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup. The propulsion system for the JUICE spacecraft was developed, built, and integrated in Germany by ArianeGroup’s Orbital Propulsion teams, and comprises the 400 N main engine to be used for Jupiter orbit injection, 20 small thrusters, and two titanium propellant tanks. After this mission, one Ariane 5 launch remains before Ariane 6 takes up the baton, supporting Europe’s institutional missions and meeting the rapidly growing needs of the commercial market. The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is an ESA program carried out in cooperation between public institutions and industry across 12 European partner countries. ArianeGroup is the lead contractor for the development and production of Ariane 5, as well as being responsible for launcher preparation operations up to lift-off. As prime contractor for Ariane 5 and Ariane 6, in charge of development and production, ArianeGroup is at the head of a vast industrial network of more than 600 companies, including 350 small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). ArianeGroup delivers a flight-ready launcher on the launch pad to its subsidiary Arianespace, which markets and operates Ariane 5 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. During launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with the French space agency (CNES), the design authority for Ariane 5 and responsible for the satellite preparation facilities and the launch base. THE LAUNCH AT A GLANCE: - 346th launch operated by Arianespace - More than 1150 satellites launched by Arianespace - 1st launch operated by Arianespace in 2023 - 116th Ariane 5 launch from the CSG - 6058kg is the total payload carried by the launched for this mission - 90th consecutive launch with nominal operation of the Vulcain 2 main stage engine - 116th consecutive launch with nominal operation of the solid boosters - 156tth consecutive launch with nominal operation of the HM7B upper stage engine

Time to reveal the passenger of our next Ariane 5, VA260 mission, in April: the incredible JUICE, built by Airbus Defence and Space for ESA. See the final countdown!

On Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at 05:30 pm local time, an Ariane 5 launcher, operated by Arianespace, successfully lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana (South America), carrying the MTG-I1 meteorological satellite and the Galaxy 35 and Galaxy 36 telecommunication satellites. The Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system will help meteorologists meet one of their main challenges – the rapid detection and forecasting of severe weather events – so that timely warnings can be given to citizens, civil authorities and first responders. The data from MTG-I1 (the “I” stands for “Imager”) will have a wide range of uses, from enabling aircraft to avoid storms and earlier alerts of flooding, to more precise monitoring of fires and fog. It will help to protect lives, property and infrastructure and bring economic benefits to Europe and Africa. The MTG satellites are developed and procured in cooperation with the European Space Agency by an industrial consortium led by Thales Alenia Space and OHB. The satellites are developed according to the requirements defined by EUMETSAT after consultation with the users of its meteorological data. Galaxy 35 and Galaxy 36 are the next satellites in Intelsat’s comprehensive Galaxy fleet refresh plan, a new generation of spacecraft that will provide Intelsat media customers in North America with high-performance media distribution capabilities and unmatched penetration of cable headends. These two satellites will bring C-band contribution capacity to support high-profile events, such as collegiate and professional football, auto racing, baseball, golf, boxing and professional wrestling. The satellites also offer in-orbit protection for select customers in the broadcast arc serving North America. “With the successful launch of VA259, Arianespace is proud to serve the interests of EUMETSAT and Intelsat, two operators with whom we have been working since 1981 and 1983, respectively”, said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace. “This mission serves both Europe and North America and is a perfect illustration of the versatility of our heavy-lift launcher, which is capable of meeting the needs of both institutional and commercial operators. Its passengers also reflect our own values, which are to make Space work for a better life on Earth, by improving our meteorological knowledge and connectivity.” “For its last flight of the year, Ariane 5 once again demonstrated its power and competitiveness, achieving a new performance of almost 11 tons to geostationary orbit. It also proved its responsiveness to the needs of Arianespace’s customers, by launching three satellites at once. Only two more Ariane 5 remain to be launched. The teams at ArianeGroup and Arianespace, with the support of ESA and the French space agency CNES, are preparing together for Ariane 6’s entry into service in autumn 2023”, said André-Hubert Roussel, CEO of ArianeGroup. By delivering 10.972 tons to geostationary orbit, Ariane 5 achieved its second highest performance after the launch of Syracuse A4 and SES-17 in October 2021. The Ariane 5 was adapted for this mission so that it could accommodate three satellites under its fairing. This triple configuration is made possible by a raising cylinder and a long fairing, increasing the space allocated to the satellites by 20m3. This is the third time in its history that Ariane 5 has done a triple launch. After this mission, just two Ariane 5 launches are left, including the JUICE mission, before Ariane 6 takes up the baton, supporting Europe’s institutional missions and meeting the growing needs of the commercial market. The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is an ESA program carried out in cooperation between public institutions and industry across 12 European partner states. The launches are operated by Arianespace. ArianeGroup is the lead contractor for the development and production of Ariane 5, as well as being responsible for launcher preparation operations up to lift-off. As prime contractor for Ariane 5 and Ariane 6, in charge of development and production, ArianeGroup is at the head of a vast industrial network of more than 600 companies, including 350 small and medium-size enterprises (SME). ArianeGroup delivers a flightworthy launcher on the launch pad to its subsidiary Arianespace, which sells and operates Ariane 5 from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana. During launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely with the French space agency (CNES), which is the design authority for Ariane 5 and is responsible for the satellite preparation facilities and the launch base.

Arianespace announced yesterday, December 20, the failure of Flight VV22 carrying Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 satellites. The Vega C launch vehicle lifted off as scheduled on December 20, 2022 at 10:47 pm (local time in French Guiana). The lift-off, the mission and the separation of the first stage (P120C) were nominal. Following the nominal ignition of the second stage’s (Zefiro 40) engine around 144 seconds after lift-off, a decrease in the pressure was observed leading to the premature end of the mission. Under standard procedure, the order of destruction of the launcher was given by CNES, the launch safety authority; no damage to persons or properties occurred. Arianespace and the European Space Agency (ESA) immediately decided to appoint an independent inquiry commission. This commission is tasked with analyzing the reasons for the failure and defining the measures fulfilling all requisite safety and reliability conditions to allow the resumption of Vega C flights. Composed of independent experts, the commission will work with Avio, Vega C launch system prime contractor. The inquiry commission is co-chaired by the Inspector General of ESA and the Chief Technical Officer of Arianespace. More information will be shared as soon as the Commission will have progressed in its investigations.

Arianespace announced yesterday, December 20, the failure of Flight VV22 carrying Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 satellites. The Vega C launch vehicle lifted off as scheduled on December 20, 2022 at 10:47 pm (local time in French Guiana). The lift-off, the mission and the separation of the first stage (P120C) were nominal. Following the nominal ignition of the second stage’s (Zefiro 40) engine around 144 seconds after lift-off, a decrease in the pressure was observed leading to the premature end of the mission. Under standard procedure, the order of destruction of the launcher was given by CNES, the launch safety authority; no damage to persons or properties occurred. Arianespace and the European Space Agency (ESA) immediately decided to appoint an independent inquiry commission. This commission is tasked with analyzing the reasons for the failure and defining the measures fulfilling all requisite safety and reliability conditions to allow the resumption of Vega C flights. Composed of independent experts, the commission will work with Avio, Vega C launch system prime contractor. The inquiry commission is co-chaired by the Inspector General of ESA and the Chief Technical Officer of Arianespace. More information will be shared as soon as the Commission will have progressed in its investigations.