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Ariane 5 launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: December 16, 2009

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.
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.

Data source: Arianespace