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Ariane 5 launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: October 14, 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+02:23 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+03:21 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+08:50 Main Stage Shutdown
The cryogenic first stage's Vulcain 2 main engine shuts down.
H0+08:56 Stage Separation
Explosive bolts fire to separate the Ariane 5's first and second stages.
H0+09:00 Upper Stage Ignition
The upper stage's HM7B engine, burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, ignites to propel the Intelsat 30 and Arsat 1 satellites to orbit.
H0+24:40 Upper Stage Shutdown
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+27:52 Intelsat 30 Separation
The Ariane 5 rocket deploys the Intelsat 30 communications satellite from the dual-payload composite's upper berth.
H0+31:48 Sylda 5 Separation
The Sylda 5 dual-payload adapter is jettisoned to expose the Arsat 1 satellite for separation.
H0+33:43 Arsat 1 Separation
The Ariane 5 rocket deploys the Arsat 1 communications satellite.

Data source: Arianespace/EADS Astrium

MISSION STATUS CENTER