Launching Ariane

Ariane 5: the last lift-off 07-06-2023 |  3 minutes

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A Franco–German success for Ariane 5’s final mission

Flight VA261 was the 117th and last ever mission of the European heavy-lift launcher Ariane 5.

 

On July 5, 2023, Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, lifted off flawlessly from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying the Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit for the German government and the SYRACUSE 4B satellite for the French Armament General Directorate (DGA).

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    ©ESA ©ArianeGroup ©CNES ©Arianespace ©Service Optique

    The Ariane 5 launcher, for which ArianeGroup is the lead contractor, is now taking its place in the annals of history, and handing down an exceptional heritage of expertise and reliability to its successor Ariane 6.

     

    Read the press release