H0 |
Main Engine Ignition |
The Ariane 5 rocket's first stage Vulcain main engine ignites and undergoes a thorough health check on the launch pad. |
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H0+00:07.3 |
Launch |
Producing about 2.6 million pounds of thrust, the Ariane 5 rocket's two solid rocket boosters ignite to lift the launcher into the sky. |
|
H0+00:17.1 |
Start Roll Maneuver |
The Ariane 5 rocket starts its roll maneuver to head north away from the Guiana Space Center. |
|
H0+02:20 |
Booster Separation |
The solid rocket boosters exhaust their propellant and are jettisoned from the Ariane 5's first stage at an altitude of nearly 50 miles. |
|
H0+03:10 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
The two halves of the Ariane 5's payload fairing are jettisoned once the rocket leaves the thick lower atmosphere. |
|
H0+09:36 |
Main Stage Shutdown |
The cryogenic first stage's Vulcain main engine shuts down, |
|
H0+09:42 |
Stage Separation |
Explosive bolts fire to separate the Ariane 5's first and second stages at an altitude of 248 miles. |
|
H0+09:49 |
Upper Stage Ignition |
The storable propellant upper stage's Aestus engine, burning hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, ignites to continue the push toward orbit. |
|
H0+26:18 |
Upper Stage Shutdown |
The upper stage's Aestus engine shuts down after reaching an injection orbit
at an altitude of about 420 miles. Relative velocity at upper
stage shutdown is 16,777 mph. The upper stage and Helios 2B will coast through orbit for 33 minutes before spacecraft separation. |
|
H0+59:23 |
Helios 2B Separation |
The Helios 2B reconnaissance satellite is released from the Ariane 5 upper stage, completing the Flight 193 mission. |
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