Spaceflight Now | Ariane Launch Report | Flight 130 mission events

Flight 130 mission events

SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: September 14, 2000

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.

Data source: Arianespace.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Ariane 5
Payload: Astra 2B & GE-7
Launch date: Sept. 14, 2000
Launch window: 2254-2349 GMT (6:54-7:49 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana

Pre-launch Briefing
Track - A map shows the typical orbital track an Ariane 5 follows to space.

Ariane directory - See our previous coverage of Ariane rocket launches.

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