Last launch of the Ariane 5 rocket
The European Space Agency (ESA) bid farewell to its Ariane 5 rocket as it successfully took off from French Guinea for the final time on Wednesday night. The rocket’s last mission involved carrying two military communications satellites, Germany’s Heinrich Hertz (H2Sat), and France’s Syracuse 4b, into geostationary orbit.
This landmark launch marks the end of a remarkable 27-year service for the Ariane 5. Since its arrival in 1996, the rocket has played an integral role in establishing Europe’s presence in the communications satellite market. Notably, the Ariane 5 rocket achieved another milestone by successfully launching NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021.
Key Features of Ariane 5
The Ariane 5 rocket, hailed as the ESA’s “workhorse,” is regarded as one of the most reliable rockets in the industry. The 53-meter-tall rocket is launched from the ESA spaceport in Kourou, French Guinea, situated on South America’s northeast coast.
The final mission of the Ariane 5, named the 117th, took place at 7 p.m. local time (2300 GMT), according to the live broadcast. The launch faced two delays as it was initially scheduled for June 16. However, technical issues and adverse weather conditions forced these postponements.
The successful farewell launch of the Ariane 5 rocket signifies an important era in European space exploration coming to an end. The ESA continues to pave the way for future missions with its upcoming developments and innovative projects.