Ariane flight VA261

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Ariane flight VA261
Ariane 5 ECA+ launch
Launch5 July 2023 (2023-07-05), 22:00 UTC
OperatorArianespace
PadGuiana Space Centre, ELA-3
PayloadGermany Heinrich Hertz
France Syracuse-4B
OutcomeSuccess
Components
Serial no.5119
Ariane launches
← VA260
VA262 →

Ariane flight VA261 was an Ariane 5 rocket flight that launched the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse-4B for customers DLR and DGA into space on 5 July 2023. It was the 117th and last Ariane 5 rocket launch.[1]

Preparation

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In May 2023, the core stage for the last Ariane 5 launch arrived at Kourou, French Guiana for LVOS and then the two SRB's and the upper cryogenic stage was integrated shortly after.[2][3] After completing all integration work the launch date was set for 15 June but due to a problem in the booster separation system, the launch was delayed.[4][5][6][7] The next launch date was announced for 4 July. On 3 July the rocket was rolled out to the pad.[8][9] However, the launch was postponed by one day due to weather.[10]

Launch

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Attempt Planned Result Turnaround Reason Decision point Weather go (%) Notes
1 4 Jul 2023, 6:30:00 pm Scrubbed — Weather 4 Jul 2023, 12:00 am Poor weather conditions.
2 5 Jul 2023, 7:00:00 pm Success 1 day 0 hours 30 minutes

The rocket was launched from the ELA-3 launch pad of the Guiana Space Centre on 05 July 2023 at 22:00 UTC.[11] The launch was called perfect after delivering the payloads to desired orbit.[12][13][14]

After the launch there were concerns on the availability of European launch vehicles as the new Vega-C rocket has suffered a launch failure on its recent VV22 launch while carrying Pléiades Neo 5 & 6 for Airbus Defence and Space, the Ariane 6 rocket was delayed for first flight, and only two Vega flights remained in the manifest.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Syracuse 4B & Heinrich Hertz | Ariane 5 ECA". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Ariane 5 lower stage, flight VA261". www.esa.int. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Ariane 5 lower stage, flight VA261". www.esa.int. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  4. ^ Foust, Jeff (15 June 2023). "Technical problem postpones final Ariane 5 launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Final Ariane 5 launch scheduled for July 4 after fixes to booster separation system". Spaceflight Now. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  6. ^ Wall, Mike (15 June 2023). "Final launch of Europe's powerful Ariane 5 rocket delayed indefinitely". Space. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Flight VA261: Postponement of the launch". Newsroom Arianespace. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  8. ^ "The last European Ariane 5 rocket arrives at the launch pad for its final countdown". Spaceflight Now. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Ariane 5 flight VA261: payload encapsulation". www.esa.int. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Ariane 5 flight VA261: weather delays launch". www.esa.int. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Ariane 5 bows out in style: dual payloads, perfect delivery". www.esa.int. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ^ "The Last Ariane 5 Launch Was Apparently Perfect". SpaceNews. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ^ Dinner, Josh (5 July 2023). "Farewell, Ariane 5! Europe's workhorse rocket launches 2 satellites on final mission (video)". Space. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  14. ^ Foust, Jeff (5 July 2023). "Ariane 5 launches for the final time". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  15. ^ Williams, Matthew (13 July 2023). "The Final Flight of Ariane 5 Means That Europe is Out of Rockets". Universe Today. Retrieved 7 November 2025.