The precision mission of the Ariane VA209 launcher
In short: On September 28, 2012, the Ariane 5 launched from French Guiana to perform a critical dual-satellite deployment. This 65th mission for the Ariane 5 launcher was tasked with placing two specific telecommunications satellites into their precise geostationary transfer orbits.
The Ariane VA209 mission, which marked the 65th flight of the Ariane 5 launcher, commenced at 21:18 GMT on 28 September 2012. Lifting off from Europe's Spaceport located in French Guiana, the mission was designed to deploy two distinct telecommunications satellites: Astra-2F and GSAT-10. The success of such missions relies on the launcher's ability to deliver payloads into specific orbital trajectories. The launch took place at 23:18 CEST. Local time in French Guiana was 18:18 during the liftoff. The liftoff occurred from Europe's Spaceport. This specific launch represented the 65th flight for this particular launcher model.
Precision is paramount in orbital mechanics, and the VA209 mission achieved its objectives with notable timing. Following the initial liftoff, the mission proceeded to inject the two satellites into their planned geostationary transfer orbits. The deployment occurred in stages, with the first satellite, Astra-2F, reaching its target approximately 27 minutes after liftoff, followed by GSAT-10 about 30 minutes after the initial launch. The deployment sequence was completed with high accuracy. This ensured both payloads reached their intended destinations. The mission achieved its goals with high accuracy. Both satellites were successfully injected into their intended transfer orbits.
By successfully placing both Astra-2F and GSAT-10 into their intended orbits, the mission fulfilled its primary objective of supporting telecommunications infrastructure. This mission highlights the operational consistency of the Ariane 5 program during its deployment phase in the early 2010s, ensuring that complex satellite payloads reach their necessary positions in space.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Liftoff of Ariane VA209
- Also: Ariane VA209 Liftoff Space Wallpaper
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