Take a walk around the Ariane 5 launch pad in French Guiana after the 16-story rocket arrived at the complex for liftoff Thursday with four European Galileo navigation satellites.
Read our launch preview for more information on the mission.
Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2016Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – G. BarbasteCredit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – G. BarbasteCredit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – G. Barbaste
A European Ariane 5 rocket climbed off its launch pad in French Guiana with nearly 3 million pounds of thrust Thursday, carrying two communications satellites to orbit for the Japanese military and British-based Avanti Communications.