| H0 |
Engine ignition |
| Four first stage Snecma Viking 5 engines and two Snecma Viking 6 engines on the twin liquid strap-on boosters are started and undergo checkout prior to launch. |
|
| H0+00:04.2 |
Solid Strap-on ignition |
| The twin Fiat Avio-built solid-fueled boosters attached to the first stage are ignited. |
|
| H0+00:04.4 |
Launch |
| The Ariane 44LP rocket lifts off from ELA-2 complex at Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, South America. |
|
| H0+00:13 |
Start Pitch Maneuver |
| Following a vertical ascent phase, the rocket begins a 10-second pitch motion for positioning on the proper launch trajectory. |
|
| H0+01:09 |
Jettison Solid Boosters |
| After using up their solid-propellant, the spent solid strap-on boosters are jettisoned from the Ariane rocket's first stage to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| H0+02:27 |
Liquid Booster Separation |
| Having consumed their liquid propellant, the DaimlerChrysler Aerospace-built strap-on boosters are jettisoned from the Ariane rocket's first stage to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| H0+03:32 |
First Stage Separation |
| The Aerospatiale Matra-built first stage of the Ariane 44LP rocket is separated to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| H0+03:33 |
Second Stage Ignition |
| The single Snecma Viking 4 engine aboard the Ariane's second stage is started, continuing the climb to orbit. |
|
| H0+04:37 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
| The 4-meter diameter payload fairing, built by Oerlikon Contraves, that protected Superbird 4 during atmospheric ascent. |
|
| H0+05:44 |
Second Stage Separation |
| The DaimlerChrysler Aerospace-built second stage of the Ariane 44LP rocket is jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| H0+05:48 |
Third Stage Ignition |
| Following the release of the second stage, the single Snecma HM 7B third stage engine is started to complete the powered phase of flight to deliver Superbird 4 into orbit. |
|
| H0+18:51 |
Third Stage Shutdown |
| After consuming its supply of liquid hydrogen and liquid oyxgen, the third stage engine shuts down. Injection into the required orbit follows two seconds later. The Aerospatiale Matra-built stage will now provide the necessary pointing and alignment for payload separation. |
|
| H0+21:09 |
Superbird 4 Separation |
| The Superbird 4 spacecraft is released into the desired geosynchronous transfer orbit. The pre-flight predicted injection orbit features a perigee altitude of 200 km, apogee altitude of 37,786 km and inclination of 5 degrees. |
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