Engineering:Ariane flight VA260

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Short description: Launch of Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

Ariane flight VA260
VA260
Ariane 5 launching the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission to Jupiter
Ariane 5 ECA+ launch
Launch14 April 2023 (2023-04-14), 12:14 UTC
OperatorArianespace
PadGuiana Space Centre, ELA-3
PayloadJupiter Icy Moons Explorer
OutcomeSuccess
Components
Serial no.5120
Ariane launches
← VA259
VA261 →

Ariane flight VA260 was an Ariane 5 rocket flight that launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) into space on 14 April 2023. It was 2023's first Ariane flight, and the 116th Ariane 5 mission.[1][2]

Launch configuration

Rocket

Main article: Engineering:Ariane 5

Ariane 5 is a heavy lift two-stage rocket with two solid fuel boosters. It was used in its ECA+ variant, which offers the highest payload mass capacity. The total launch mass of the vehicle is 770,000 kg (1,700,000 lb).

ESA image showing Ariane 5 launch important missions

Payload

Main article: Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

The only payload on the flight was the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), an orbiter going to planet Jupiter built by Airbus Defence and Space for ESA.[3][4][5]

ESA image showing deployment timeline of JUICE mission before and after launch

Preparation

Launch preparation began after the arrival of JUICE in Kourou, French Guiana, then it after fuelling and other works the JUICE spacecraft was Integrated with Ariane 5.[6] After completing all preparations, the rocket was rolled out to the launch pad a day before launch.[7][8][9]

JUICE satellite during Integration

JUICE is the first European mission to Jupiter.[10]

Launch

Attempt Planned Result Turnaround Reason Decision point Weather go (%) Notes
1 2023-04-13 9:15 AM 13 Apr 2023, 9:15:00 am Scrubbed — Weather 2023-04-13 9:05 13 Apr 2023, 9:05 am (T−00:10:00) Risk of lightning in launch area.[11]
2 2023-04-14 9:14:36 AM 14 Apr 2023, 9:14:36 am Success 0 days, 23 hours, 60 minutes

The rocket was launched from the ELA-3 launch pad of the Guiana Space Centre on 14 April 2023 at 12:14 UTC.[12][13][14]

Orbit

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer was injected into an Interplanetary trajectory that took it to multiple flybys until reaching its destination planet Jupiter.[15]

ESA image showing milestones of ESA JUICE Mission before reaching Jupiter

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ariane Flight VA260". 2023-04-04. https://newsroom.arianespace.com/ariane-flight-va260. 
  2. ↑ "Juice". https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice. 
  3. ↑ "NASA Astrobiology". https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/missions/juice/. 
  4. ↑ "JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer)". https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/juice. 
  5. ↑ "JUICE: Exploring Jupiter's Moons". 2017-02-14. https://www.space.com/35692-esa-juice-facts.html. 
  6. ↑ "Juice meets Ariane 5". 2023-04-05. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice/Juice_meets_Ariane_5. 
  7. ↑ "Ariane 5 flight VA260, Juice: fully integrated and ready for rollout". 2023-04-11. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/04/Ariane_5_flight_VA260_Juice_fully_integrated_and_ready_for_rollout. 
  8. ↑ "Ariane 5 VA 260 with Juice - Rollout". https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/04/Ariane_5_VA_260_with_Juice_-_Rollout. 
  9. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2023-04-12). "Ariane 5 ready to launch ESA’s JUICE mission to Jupiter". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/ariane-5-ready-to-launch-esas-juice-mission-to-jupiter/. 
  10. ↑ Clark, Stephen (2023-04-13). "Live coverage: Ariane 5 rocket launches Europe's first mission to Jupiter". https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/04/13/ariane-5-va260-mission-status-center/. 
  11. ↑ Clark, Stephen (2023-04-13). "Lightning threat delays launch of Europe's first mission to Jupiter". https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/04/13/lightning-threat-delays-launch-of-europes-first-mission-to-jupiter/. 
  12. ↑ "ESA's Juice lifts off on quest to discover secrets of Jupiter's icy moons". ESA. 14 April 2023. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice/ESA_s_Juice_lifts_off_on_quest_to_discover_secrets_of_Jupiter_s_icy_moons. 
  13. ↑ https://spacenews.com/tag/ariane-5-flight-va260/
  14. ↑ Clark, Stephen (2023-04-14). "Europe launches spacecraft on eight-year journey to explore Jupiter's moons". https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/04/14/europe-launches-spacecraft-on-eight-year-journey-to-explore-jupiters-moons/. 
  15. ↑ "Juice on final stretch for launch to Jupiter". 2023-02-10. https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Juice_on_final_stretch_for_launch_to_Jupiter. 



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