September 28, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA209 The fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2012 delivered a pair of telecommunications spacecraft to geostationary transfer orbit today, marking the 65th launch to date for Arianespace’s heavy-lift workhorse. Lifting off in late afternoon sunlight at 6:18 p.m. from the Spaceport in French Guiana, Ariane 5 deployed its ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10 satellite passengers during a flight lasting 30 minutes. This timing just prior to sunset provided a clear view of Ariane 5’s initial trajectory as it cleared a low cloud deck and continued the ascent, enabling tracking cameras to view the solid propellant booster’s separation at an altitude of 67.5 km., as well as the payload fairing’s jettison at nearly 110 km. above French Guiana. The launcher’s total payload lift performance was more than 10,200 kg. – which included a combined mass of some 9,400 kg. for the two spacecraft, along with Ariane 5’s multi-payload dispenser system and associated integration hardware. Ariane 5's climb-out from the Spaceport is traced by its plume, which is twisted by upper-level winds. At the plume's top, Ariane 5 is visible just after the jettison of its two solid propellant boosters. Highlighting the continuing on-target accuracy of Ariane 5, the vehicle’s estimated orbital parameters at injection of its cryogenic upper stage were: - Perigee: 249.7 km. for a target of 249.7 km. - Apogee: 35,938 km. for a target of 35,933 km. - Inclination: 6.00 deg. for a target of 6.00 deg.
