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Ariane 5 launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: September 10, 2014

H0 Main Engine Ignition
The Ariane 5 rocket's first stage Vulcain 2 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+00:12.6 Start Pitch Maneuver
The Ariane 5 rocket begins to pitch over after rising vertically from the ELA-3 launch pad.
H0+00:17.1 Start Roll Maneuver
The Ariane 5 rocket starts its roll maneuver to head east away from the Guiana Space Center.
H0+00:48.4 Mach 1
At an altitude of 6,640 meters, or about 21,785 feet, the Ariane 5 launcher passes the speed of sound.
H0+02:21 Booster Separation
The solid rocket boosters exhaust their propellant and are jettisoned from the Ariane 5's first stage. At this point in the flight, Ariane 5 is traveling at about 2.01 kilometers per second, or about 4,500 mph.
H0+03:23 Jettison Payload Fairing
The two halves of the Ariane 5's 5.4-meter, or 17.7-foot, diameter payload fairing are jettisoned once the rocket leaves the thick lower atmosphere at an altitude of 111 kilometers, or 69 miles.
H0+08:56 Main Stage Shutdown
The cryogenic first stage's Vulcain 2 main engine shuts down.
H0+09:02 Stage Separation
Explosive bolts fire to separate the Ariane 5's first and second stages.
H0+09:06 Upper Stage Ignition
The upper stage's HM7B engine, burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, ignites to propel the Measat 3b and Optus 10 satellites to orbit.
H0+25:11 Upper Stage Shutdown 1
The upper stage's HM7B engine shuts down after reaching an orbit with a low point of 249.8 kilometers (155.2 miles), a high point of 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) and an inclination of 6 degrees.
H0+26:54 Measat 3b Separation
The Ariane 5 rocket deploys the Measat 3b communications satellite from the dual-payload composite's upper berth.
H0+28:41 Sylda 5 Separation
The Sylda 5 dual-payload adapter is jettisoned to expose the Optus 10 satellite for separation.
H0+34:26 Optus 10 Separation
The Ariane 5 rocket deploys the Optus 10 communications satellite.

Data source: Arianespace/EADS Astrium

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