Ariane 5
Successfully Launches The Juice Space Probe For ESA
April 14, 2023 at 09:14 am
local time, an Ariane 5 launcher, operated by
Arianespace, successfully lifted off from Europe’s
Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying the
European Space Agency (ESA) JUICE space probe.
The spacecraft, built by Airbus
Defence and Space for ESA, will carry out Europe’s
first mission to Jupiter. It will spend at least
three years making detailed observations of the
planet’s icy moons: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto,
which will arrived in july 2031. JUICE will study
the moons as potential habitats for life, addressing
two key questions: what are the conditions for
planet formation and the emergence of life, and how
does the solar system work?
Stéphane Israël, CEO of
Arianespace, said: “Arianespace is honored to have
been entrusted with this launch, the first European
mission to Jupiter, and to play a part in expanding
our understanding of the solar system and the
necessary conditions for the emergence of life. In
preparing for this mission, we have worked hand in
hand with ESA, Airbus Defence and Space,
ArianeGroup, and French space agency CNES. I take
this opportunity to thank all the teams who have
given so much for 10 years to bring us to today’s
successful result. And good luck to JUICE for the
incredible journey it is about to embark on!”
“With the successful launch of
the JUICE space probe, Ariane 5 has once again made
its contribution to European space history. This
exceptional mission benefited twice over from
ArianeGroup’s expertise: we not only built and
prepared Ariane 5 for this mission, but we are also
involved in the JUICE spacecraft as we developed,
supplied, and tested the entire propulsion system
which will enable the probe to make its eight-year
journey to Jupiter. I want to thank the teams from
ArianeGroup and Arianespace, together with all our
European partners, for this latest success of the
Ariane launcher. Our launcher’s high reliability is
due to the unfailing cooperation between the
industry, ESA, and CNES, the guarantee of Europe’s
independent access to space,” said Martin Sion, CEO
of ArianeGroup.
The propulsion system for the
JUICE spacecraft was developed, built, and
integrated in Germany by ArianeGroup’s Orbital
Propulsion teams, and comprises the 400 N main
engine to be used for Jupiter orbit injection, 20
small thrusters, and two titanium propellant tanks.
After this mission, one Ariane
5 launch remains before Ariane 6 takes up the baton,
supporting Europe’s institutional missions and
meeting the rapidly growing needs of the commercial
market.
The Ariane 5 heavy-lift
launcher is an ESA program carried out in
cooperation between public institutions and industry
across 12 European partner countries.
ArianeGroup is the lead
contractor for the development and production of
Ariane 5, as well as being responsible for launcher
preparation operations up to lift-off. As prime
contractor for Ariane 5 and Ariane 6, in charge of
development and production, ArianeGroup is at the
head of a vast industrial network of more than 600
companies, including 350 small and medium-size
enterprises (SMEs). ArianeGroup delivers a
flight-ready launcher on the launch pad to its
subsidiary Arianespace, which markets and operates
Ariane 5 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana.
During launch campaigns, Arianespace works closely
with the French space agency (CNES), the design
authority for Ariane 5 and responsible for the
satellite preparation facilities and the launch
base.
THE LAUNCH AT A GLANCE:
346th launch operated by
Arianespace
More than 1150 satellites
launched by Arianespace
1st launch operated by
Arianespace in 2023
This launch was carried out on
April 14, 2023 from the European Spaceport in
Kourou, French Guiana at 09:14 am local time (12:14
pm UTC)
116th Ariane 5 launch fro mthe
CSG
6058kg is the total payload
carried by the launched for this mission
90th consecutive launch with
nominal operation of the Vulcain 2 main stage engine
116th consecutive launch with
nominal operation of the solid boosters
156tth consecutive launch with
nominal operation of the HM7B upper stage engine
|