Ariane flight VA261

Last updated

Ariane flight VA261
Ariane 5 ECA+ launch
Launch5 July 2023 (2023-07-05), 22:00 UTC
Operator Arianespace
Pad Guiana Space Centre, ELA-3
Payload Flag of Germany.svg Heinrich Hertz
Flag of France.svg Syracuse-4B
OutcomeSuccess
Components
Serial no.5119
Ariane launches
←  VA260
VA262  →

Ariane flight VA261 was an Ariane 5 rocket flight that launched the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse-4B for customers DLR and DGA into space on 5 July 2023. It was the 117th and last Ariane 5 rocket launch. [1]

Contents

Preparation

In May 2023, the core stage for the last Ariane 5 launch arrived at Kourou, French Guiana for LVOS and then the two SRB's and the upper cryogenic stage was integrated shortly after. [2] [3] After completing all integration work the launch date was set for 15 June but due to a problem in the booster separation system, the launch was delayed. [4] [5] [6] [7] The next launch date was announced for 4 July. On 3 July the rocket was rolled out to the pad. [8] [9] However, the launch was postponed by one day due to weather. [10]

Launch

AttemptPlannedResultTurnaroundReasonDecision pointWeather go (%)Notes
14 Jul 2023, 6:30:00 pmScrubbed—Weather4 Jul 2023, 12:00 amPoor weather conditions.
25 Jul 2023, 7:00:00 pmSuccess1 day 0 hours 30 minutes

The rocket was launched from the ELA-3 launch pad of the Guiana Space Centre on 05 July 2023 at 22:00 UTC. [11] The launch was called perfect after delivering the payloads to desired orbit. [12] [13] [14]

After the launch there were concerns on the availability of European launch vehicles as the new Vega-C rocket has suffered a launch failure on its recent VV22 launch while carrying Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 for Airbus Defence and Space, the Ariane 6 rocket was delayed for first flight, and only two Vega flights remained in the manifest. [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Syracuse 4B & Heinrich Hertz | Ariane 5 ECA". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Ariane 5 lower stage, flight VA261". www.esa.int. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ariane 5 lower stage, flight VA261". www.esa.int. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Foust, Jeff (15 June 2023). "Technical problem postpones final Ariane 5 launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "Final Ariane 5 launch scheduled for July 4 after fixes to booster separation system". Spaceflight Now. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Wall, Mike (15 June 2023). "Final launch of Europe's powerful Ariane 5 rocket delayed indefinitely". Space. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Flight VA261: Postponement of the launch". Newsroom Arianespace. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "The last European Ariane 5 rocket arrives at the launch pad for its final countdown". Spaceflight Now. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ariane 5 flight VA261: payload encapsulation". www.esa.int. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Ariane 5 flight VA261: weather delays launch". www.esa.int. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Ariane 5 bows out in style: dual payloads, perfect delivery". www.esa.int. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "The Last Ariane 5 Launch Was Apparently Perfect". SpaceNews. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ↑ Dinner, Josh (5 July 2023). "Farewell, Ariane 5! Europe's workhorse rocket launches 2 satellites on final mission (video)". Space. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  14. ↑ Foust, Jeff (5 July 2023). "Ariane 5 launches for the final time". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  15. ↑ Williams, Matthew (13 July 2023). "The Final Flight of Ariane 5 Means That Europe is Out of Rockets". Universe Today. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
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