Arianespace Postpones Final Ariane 5 Launch 

An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket launches MTG-I1 satellite for EUMETSAT and two Galaxy satellites for Intelsat in December 2022. Photo: Arianespace

Arianespace postponed the final launch of its Ariane 5 rocket, set for Friday. Arianespace shared the news on June 15, a day before the launch was scheduled.

“It has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5. Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the roll-out of the launch vehicle,” Arianespace said in a statement. 

The launcher said an analysis is underway to determine a new launch date, and both the launcher and its satellites are in the assembly building in  “stable and safe conditions.” 

The mission will launch two satellites — Syracuse 4B, built by Airbus Defence and Space for the French government’s defense procurement and technology agency DGA, and the Heinrich-Hertz-Mission, built by OHB for the German space agency DLR. 

It will be a historic milestone as the final Ariane 5 mission. The rocket which has launched a total of 116 times, most recently Europe’s Juice space probe on a mission to Jupiter.