VA231 - 74th success in a row

Arianespace orbited two key telecommunications payloads for Australia and India on the 74th consecutive success for its heavy-lift Ariane 5 – confirming this workhorse vehicle’s role as the launch services industry reference in availability, reliability and performance.

Conducted from the Spaceport in French Guiana, the daytime mission delivered an estimated payload lift performance of 10,660 kg. to geostationary transfer orbit. It carried Sky Muster™ II for Australian operator nbn™, and GSAT-18, which will be utilized by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Sky Muster™ II was deployed first in the flight sequence, separating from Ariane 5 at 28 minutes after liftoff, followed four minutes later by GSAT-18.

Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël offered his congratulations to both customers – and everyone else involved with the successful mission – during post-launch comments from the Spaceport’s Jupiter control room.

“It is now the fifth time this year that Ariane 5 has performed flawlessly, and this launch celebrates as well its 74th success in a row, now equaling [that of the predecessor] Ariane 4,” Israël said. “Well done!”