Launch moved one day because of unfavorable weather conditions
This will be the last flight of an Ariane 5 rocket. Since 1996 it launched 116 times in various configurations. With a success rate of 96% it is considered one of the most reliable rockets in service. Only Atlas V has a better track record of launch successes. It also used to be the most powerful rocket until Falcon Heavy came into service.
Scott Manley: How Europe Designed and Evolved The Ariane Rocket Over Last 4 Decades
ArianeGroup has Ariane 6 as replacement almost ready to launch. The concept in 2015 was to cut launch costs of Ariane 5 by half and increase the launch rate from 6 to 11. These might have been respectable numbers eight years ago, but it might not be enough to sustainably compete with SpaceX. SpaceX has already launched 41 rockets this year and might launch up to 80 for the full year. Elon is eying 100 launches for 2023. It is rumored that it can launch Starlink missions for as little as $ 20 million.
| Cost per Launch [$ million]* | Payload to LEO [t] | |
|---|---|---|
| Ariane 5 | 150 – 200 | 16 - 20 |
| Ariane 6 | 75 - 115 | 10,4 – 21,7 |
| Falcon 9 | 67 | 17,4 – 22,8 |
| Falcon Heavy | 97 – 150 | 63,8 |
*Launch cost estimates from Wikipedia.
Mission
The rocket will carry
- Syracuse 4B, a military communications satellite for the French military.
- Heinrich Hertz, a military communications satellite for the German military.
Total payload mass is 6,9 t. Target is a geostationary transfer orbit.
Available live streams:
- arianespace: Flight VA261 | Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit & SYRACUSE 4B | Ariane 5 | Arianespace
- Tim Dodd: Watch the LAST Ariane 5 rocket launch ever!!!
- Angry Astronaut: Ariane 5 Final launch live
Space Facts
Scott Manley: What Is This Debris Falling Off The Sides Of Rockets?