 Ariane 5 containing theJames Webb Space Telescope moments after lift-off | |
| Ariane 5 ECA+ launch | |
|---|---|
| Launch | 25 December 2021 (2021-12-25), 12:20:00UTC[1] |
| Operator | Arianespace |
| Pad | Guyana Space Centre,ELA-3 |
| Payload | James Webb Space Telescope |
| Outcome | Success[2] |
| Components | |
| Serialno. | 5113 |
| Ariane launches | |
Ariane flight VA256 was anAriane 5 rocket flight that launched theJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST) into space on 25 December 2021.[3] It was 2021's final Ariane flight, its most valuable payload to date, and the 256thAriane mission. The launch was described by NASA as "flawless" and "perfect".[4]
Ariane 5 is a heavy lift two-stage rocket with two solid fuel boosters. It was used in itsECA+variant, which offers the highest payload mass capacity. The total launch mass of the vehicle is 770,000 kg (1,700,000 lb).
The only payload on the flight was theJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST), aspace-based observatory built byNASA andESA. The launch is one of the European Space Agency's contributions to the project.[5][3] The telescope had a launch mass of about 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) and a design lifetime of 5 to 10 years.
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The James Webb Space Telescope arrived at a port inKourou inFrench Guiana, on 12 October 2021 where it was unloaded from theMN Colibri cargo ship and transported by truck to the space centre.[6]
On 22 November 2021 an incident was reported by NASA and Arianespace that a clamp band securing the payload to the adapter was released during integration activities, causing vibrations to the telescope.[7] After some tests were performed, a review board concluded on 24 November 2021 that no payload component was damaged, and fuelling operations could be started.[8][9]
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Spacecraft fuelling operations began on 25 November 2021,[8] the fuelling system was disconnected on 3 December 2021, and verifications were concluded on 5 December 2021. The telescope'shypergolic fuel system was filled with approximately 168 kg (370 lb) ofhydrazine and 133 kg (293 lb) ofdinitrogen tetroxide, needed to reach and maintain its orbit after separation from the launch vehicle.[10]
Following the rocket, which had already arrived on 29 November 2021, the telescope was moved to the final assembly building (Bâtiment d'Assemblage Final orBAF) on 7 December 2021.[11] The payload was encapsulated inside the fairing on top of the rocket on 21 December 2021.[12]
On 14 December 2021, a joint press release by NASA and Arianespace revealed that "a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system" was being addressed, further delaying the launch to no earlier than 24 December 2021.[13][3]
Unfavorable weather forecasts for 24 December 2021 delayed the launch toChristmas Day, 25 December 2021.[1]
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The rocket was launched from theELA-3 launch pad of theGuiana Space Centre on 25 December 2021 (Christmas Day) at 12:20UTC (09:20 local time, 7:20 am U.S. EST).[14] The Range Operations Manager (DDO (French:Directeur des Opérations,lit. 'Director of Operations')) of the launch was Jean-Luc Voyer, who concluded his shift by saying, "Go Webb!"[15]
The launch was described by NASA as "flawless" and "perfect".[4] A NASA systems engineer said "the efficiency or the accuracy with which Ariane put us on orbit and our accuracy and effectiveness in implementing our mid-course corrections" meant that there is "quite a bit of fuel margin ... roughly speaking, it’s around 20 years of propellant."[16][17]
The James Webb Space Telescope was injected into atransfer trajectory that took it to the second Earth-SunLagrange point (L2).
The separation of the launch vehicle second stage and the spacecraft occurred approximately 27 minutes after liftoff.[18] The second stage downloaded video, the last known time the telescope will be seen, of the separation and initial deployment of the solar panels.[18] After this separation, the telescope became autonomous and began itsdeployment sequence. About 29 days after liftoff, it executed amaneuver placing it into ahalo orbit around the L2 point, where it can perform its science mission. Its next five months were spent on coolingNIRCam and theMid-Infrared Instrument down further, calibrating its mirrors while focusing onHD 84406, a bright star in the constellationUrsa Major, and testing the instruments.[19][20][21]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Arianespace launches | ||
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