Ariane Flight 161 timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: June 11, 2003

H0 Main Engine Ignition
The Vulcain 1 engine on the cryogenic main stage is started 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 lit.
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 16th 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+02:22 Booster Separation
The solid-fuel rocket boosters have burned their propellant and are jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
H0+03:20 Jettison Payload Fairing
The payload fairing that protected the two communications satellites during launch is separated once heating conditions allow.
H0+09:46 Main Cryogenic Stage Extinction
The Vulcain 1 main engine shuts down. Six seconds later, the spent main cryogenic stage separates to fall back to Earth. Predications indicate the stage will enter off the coast of South America in the mid-Pacific Ocean.
H0+09:59 Storable Propellant Stage Ignition
The storable propellant stage, the upper stage of Ariane 5, begins firing to deliver the Optus C1 and BSAT 2c satellites into the planned deployment orbit.
H0+26:52 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 590 km, apogee altitude of 35,736 km and inclination of 7 degrees.
H0+28:07 Optus C1 Separation
The Australian Optus and Defence C1 communications satellite is released from the Ariane 5 rocket's storable propellant stage.
H0+31:59 Sylda 5 Separation
The barrel-shaped Sylda 5 payload adapter used to support two communications satellites launched by one Ariane 5 rocket is jettisoned.
H0+35:02 BSAT 2c Separation
The Japanese BSAT 2c direct broadcasting spacecraft is deployed into space from the Ariane 5 rocket to complete the launch.

Data source: Arianespace.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Ariane 5G
Payload: Optus C1 & BSAT 2c
Launch date: June 11, 2003
Launch window: 2136 to 2302 GMT (5:36-7:02 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana, South America
Satellite broadcast: Telstar 4, Transponder 11, C-band

Pre-launch Briefing
Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of the events to occur during launch.

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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