80th consecutive successful launch for Ariane 5

For its fourth launch of the year and the third in just two months, Ariane 5 successfully completed its 80^th consecutive successful mission, placing two telecommunications satellites in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) from the European space port of Kourou (French Guiana). The launch performance was 9,256 kg net mass for the satellites, or a gross mass of 10,136 kg (including the ACU [payload adapters], the SYLDA [Ariane dual launch system) and the LVA 3936 [Launch Vehicle Adaptor]).

The launcher continuous improvement program enabled the use of an optimized GTO orbit, with an inclination reduced to 3° in order to minimize the energy required for the satellites to reach their final orbit.

This continuous improvement of Ariane 5 contributes both to performance and the containment of production costs, and directly benefits the future Ariane 6, scheduled for its first flight in 2020.

Lead contractor for the Ariane 5 launchers and the future Ariane 6, Airbus Safran Launchers will change its name to ArianeGroup on 1 July of this year. This new identity underlines its status as an international group and further reinforces a coherent image with Arianespace, its 74%-owned subsidiary since 31 December 2016.

ArianeGroup coordinates an industrial network of more than 600 companies in 13 European countries (including more than 350 Small and Medium Enterprises). Airbus Safran Launchers oversees the entire industrial chain, from management of launcher performance to its final setting, supplying the flight software for the mission through the control of its production and its marketing via Arianespace. This chain includes equipment and structures, engines manufacturing, integration of the various stages and, finally, launcher integration in French Guiana.