Nina Droff / Photo credit: JODY AMIET / AFP 20:18 p.m., July 05, 2023

After two postponements and 27 years of activity, the European launcher Ariane 5 has arrived on its launch pad in Kourou in French Guiana for its 117th and last flight which will take place next night after two postponements. Its replacement, Ariane 6, however, will not be operational for many months.

Ariane 5 bows out. After 27 years of good and loyal service, the European rocket will make its 117th and last flight on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, French time. The latter was postponed twice due to wind. The departure will take place from the Kourou base in French Guiana and the launcher will send two objects into orbit: a French military satellite, called Syracuse 4B and a German telecommunications satellite.

Here we go! The latest weather forecast briefing gives positive indications for tomorrow's Ariane 5 #VA261 launch attempt. Things are looking good, hence we have decided to resume the preparation operations and still target a lift-off tomorrow July 5 from 7pm local time onwards. pic.twitter.com/fBuqVRI8IJ

— Arianespace (@Arianespace) July 4, 2023

This final flight ends almost 30 years of memorable Ariane 5 missions. For Jean-Baptiste Desbois, director of the Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, this moment will offer a certain amount of emotion. "There have been some very good missions since 1996. The launch of the James Webb, this space telescope, is particularly significant. It was an extraordinary mission that brought us extremely interesting elements on the understanding of the universe," he recalls.

Lagging behind Ariane 6

To experience other launches like this, you will have to be patient. Because Ariane 6, the little sister of Ariane 5, will not be operational before the end of the year. "The manufacturing programs for Ariane 5 have been stopped. And then Ariane 6 was delayed because there were several bad temporalities that came together to lead to this moment, "says Jean-Baptiste Desbois.

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The launch of Ariane 5 can be followed live at the Cité de l'espace in Toulouse also on the YouTube channel of the Ariane group. Take-off is scheduled between midnight and 1:05 a.m., French time.