| H0 |
Main Engine Ignition |
| The Vulcain engine on the cryogenic main stage is ignited and undergoes computer checkout prior to launch. |
|
| H0+00:07.0 |
Solid Booster Ignition |
| The twin-solid rocket boosters attached to the cryogenic main stage are ignited. |
|
| H0+00:07.3 |
Launch |
| The Ariane 5 rocket lifts off from ELA-3 complex at Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, South America, to begin its sixth launch. |
|
| H0+00:13 |
Start Pitch Maneuver |
| Following a vertical ascent phase, the rocket begins a 10-second pitch rotation to achieve proper positioning for the climb through the atmosphere. |
|
| H0+00:17 |
Start Roll Maneuver |
| The Ariane 5 rocket begins a planned roll maneuver to the proper launch trajectory, heading eastward away from South America. |
|
| H0+02:25 |
Booster Separation |
| The solid-fuel rocket boosters have burned their propellant and are jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
|
| H0+03:22 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
| The payload fairing that protected the two communications satellites during launch is separated once heating conditions allow.
|
|
| H0+09:57 |
Main Cryogenic Stage Extinction |
| The Vulcain main engine shuts down. At this point, based upon onboard computer commanding of the launch trajectory, the vehicle should have arrived in the planned intermediate orbit. |
| H0+10:03 |
Separation of Main Cryogenic Stage |
| The spent main cryogenic stage separates to fall back to Earth. Predications indicate the stage to enter off the coast of the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. |
|
| H0+10:10 |
Storable Propellant Stage Ignition |
| The storable propellant stage, the upper stage of Ariane 5, begins firing to deliver the Astra 2B and GE-7 satellites into the planned deployment orbit. |
|
| H0+27:17 |
Storable Propellant Stage Shutdown |
| After completing its long-duration burn, the storable propellant stage shuts down. The injection orbit for satellite payload is planned with a perigee altitude of 560 km, apogee altitude of 35,938 km and inclination of 7 degrees. |
|
| H0+28:42 |
Astra 2B Separation |
| The Astra 2B direct-to-home television broadcasting satellite is released from the Ariane 5 rocket's storable propellant stage. |
|
| H0+30:28 |
Sylda 5 Separation |
| The Sylda 5 payload adapter used to support two communications satellites launched by one Ariane 5 rocket is jettisoned. |
|
| H0+37:39 |
GE-7 Separation |
| The GE Americom GE-7 telecommunications satellite is deployed into space from the Ariane 5 rocket to complete the launch. |
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