The “green light” has been given for Ariane 5’s heavy-lift mission with the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn spacecraft. Its go-ahead followed today’s successful launch readiness review, which validated the status of Ariane 5 and its dual-satellite payload, the launch infrastructure at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, and the network of downrange tracking stations.
This authorization clears the way for Ariane 5’s rollout from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, which will take place tomorrow. Liftoff of the Ariane 5 is planned during a launch window that opens on April 22 at 6:37 p.m. local time in French Guiana.