Ariane flight VA260
| Company type | Rocket launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Headquarters | Kourou , French Guiana |
| Products | Heavy-lift launch vehicle |
Template:Infobox rocket launch
Ariane flight VA260 marked the launch of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on 14 April 2023. This mission represented the first Ariane launch of 2023 and was the 116th flight in the Ariane 5 series.
Rocket
The heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket features two stages and is augmented by a pair of solid propellant boosters. For this mission, the ECA+ configuration was utilized, known for its superior payload capacity. The vehicle's total mass at liftoff was approximately 770,000 kg (1,700,000 lb).
Payload
The sole payload aboard this flight was the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), an orbiter destined for planet Jupiter. Constructed by Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the European Space Agency, JUICE is designed to study Jupiter and its icy moons in detail.
Preparation
Preparations for launch commenced following JUICE's arrival in Kourou, French Guiana. After completing fueling and other necessary procedures, the spacecraft was integrated with the Ariane 5 launcher. Once all systems were verified, the fully assembled rocket was transported to the launch pad one day prior to liftoff.
JUICE represents Europe's inaugural mission to Jupiter.
Launch
On 14 April 2023 at 12:24 UTC, the rocket lifted off from the ELA-3 launch complex located at the Guiana Space Centre.
Orbit
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer was placed onto an interplanetary path designed to conduct several flybys before ultimately arriving at its target, the planet Jupiter.
See also
Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 359: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').