Ariane flight VA261
| Company type | Rocket launch mission |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | July 5, 2023 |
| Fate | Final mission of Ariane 5 launch vehicle |
| Headquarters | Kourou , French Guiana |
| Products | Satellite launch services |
Ariane flight VA261 marked the final mission of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, successfully deploying the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse-4B satellites on behalf of the DLR and DGA on 5 July 2023. This mission represented the 117th and concluding launch of the Ariane 5 series.
Preparation
In May 2023, the core stage designated for Ariane 5's last flight was delivered to the Kourou site in French Guiana, where it underwent LVOS processing. Shortly thereafter, integration proceeded with the attachment of the two solid rocket boosters and the upper cryogenic stage. Upon completion of assembly activities, a launch date was initially set for 15 June. However, an issue detected within the booster separation mechanism necessitated rescheduling. The subsequent launch was planned for 4 July. The vehicle was transported to the launch pad on 3 July in preparation for liftoff. Ultimately, adverse weather conditions caused a further postponement, shifting the launch by one day.
Launch
Template:LaunchAttempt On 5 July 2023 at 22:00 UTC, the rocket lifted off from the ELA-3 launch site at the Guiana Space Centre.[1] The mission was deemed flawless, successfully placing its payloads into the targeted orbit.[2][3][4]
Following this launch, concerns arose regarding the availability of European launch vehicles. The newer Vega-C rocket recently experienced a failure during its VV22 mission carrying Pléiades Neo 5 and 6 satellites for Airbus Defence and Space. Meanwhile, the debut flight of the Ariane 6 was postponed, and only two flights of the original Vega remained scheduled.[5]
See also
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References
- ↑ "Ariane 5 bows out in style: dual payloads, perfect delivery". www.esa.int. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ↑ "The Last Ariane 5 Launch Was Apparently Perfect". SpaceNews. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ↑ Dinner, Josh (2023-07-05). "Farewell, Ariane 5! Europe's workhorse rocket launches 2 satellites on final mission (video)". Space. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ↑ Foust, Jeff (2023-07-05). "Ariane 5 launches for the final time". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ↑ Williams, Matthew (2023-07-13). "The Final Flight of Ariane 5 Means That Europe is Out of Rockets". Universe Today. Retrieved 2025-11-07.