VA261 – Spaceflight Now

September 13, 2024

Breaking News

[ September 12, 2024 ] SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from West Coast Falcon 9
[ September 12, 2024 ] First non-government spacewalk goes off without a hitch for Polaris Dawn crew Mission Reports
[ September 12, 2024 ] SpaceX to launches five BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
[ September 12, 2024 ] Polaris Dawn crew gears up for Thursday spacewalk Mission Reports
[ September 11, 2024 ] NASA astronaut Don Pettit makes fourth trip to the International Space Station Mission Reports

Ending an era, Europe launches its final Ariane 5 rocket

July 6, 2023 William Harwood

Europe’s venerable Ariane 5 rocket blasted off on its 117th and final flight Wednesday, successfully boosting two communications satellites into orbit but leaving the European space program without a large satellite launcher of its own until a delayed successor comes on line.

Final Ariane 5 launch scheduled for July 4 after fixes to booster separation system

June 26, 2023 Spaceflight Now

Europe’s last Ariane 5 rocket is now scheduled to lift off July 4 after being grounded for more than two weeks due to a problem with the pyrotechnic systems required to jettison the launcher’s strap-on solid rocket boosters. Europe’s workhorse rocket is being retired after 27 years of service.