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    1. Space Exploration
    2. Satellites

    In Photos: Ariane 5 Rocket Launches DirecTV 16 and Eutelsat 7C Satellites

    News
    By Hanneke Weitering published 20 June 2019

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    A Sunset Liftoff

    A Sunset Liftoff

    An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched two new communications satellites, DirecTV 16 and Eutelsat 7C, into orbit on June 20, 2019. See photos of the mission in this gallery!

    HERE: The Ariane 5 rocket is pictured soaring into space during a beautiful sunset, 26 seconds after liftoff. 

    Full Story: Ariane 5 Rocket Lofts 2 Satellites Into Orbit in Gorgeous Sunset Launch

    Page 1 of 11
    Page 1 of 11
    3, 2, 1 ... Blast Off!

    3, 2, 1 ... Blast Off!

    The Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana right on time, at 5:43 p.m. EDT (2143 GMT). 

    Page 2 of 11
    Page 2 of 11
    Ariane 5 Takes to the Skies

    Ariane 5 Takes to the Skies

    Despite the scattered thunderstorms in the area on launch day, the mission lifted off into surprisingly clear skies. 

    Page 3 of 11
    Page 3 of 11
    Stage Separation

    Stage Separation

    The rocket's two side boosters are clearly visible after stage separation. 

    Page 4 of 11
    Page 4 of 11
    The Launch Site

    The Launch Site

    The Ariane 5 rocket designated VA248 is transferred to the launch pad at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of its planned launch of the T-16 and Eutelsat 7C communications satellites. 

    Page 5 of 11
    Page 5 of 11
    Ariane 5 Ready to Roll

    Ariane 5 Ready to Roll

    The Ariane 5 rocket designated VA248 is readied for its trek from the assembly facility over to the launch pad at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. 

    Page 6 of 11
    Page 6 of 11
    The Ariane 5

    The Ariane 5

    The Ariane 5 rocket designated VA248 is transferred to the launch pad at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of its planned launch of the T-16 and Eutelsat 7C communications satellites. 

    Page 7 of 11
    Page 7 of 11
    Satellite Fit Check

    Satellite Fit Check

    The Eutelsat 7C communications satellite undergoes a fit check validation in the clean room at the S5 payload preparation facility in Kourou, French Guiana.

    Page 8 of 11
    Page 8 of 11
    Fueling Up

    Fueling Up

    The T-16 communications satellite is filled with propellant at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

    Page 9 of 11
    Page 9 of 11
    DirecTV 16

    DirecTV 16

    An artist's rendering of the T-16 communications satellite, also known as DirecTV 16.

    Page 10 of 11
    Page 10 of 11
    Eutelsat 7C

    Eutelsat 7C

    A digital mockup of the Eutelsat 7C telecommunications satellite in orbit. 

    Page 11 of 11
    Page 11 of 11
    Hanneke Weitering
    Hanneke Weitering
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing expert

    Hanneke Weitering is a multimedia journalist in the Pacific Northwest reporting on the future of aviation at FutureFlight.aero and Aviation International News and was previously the Editor for Spaceflight and Astronomy news here at Space.com. As an editor with over 10 years of experience in science journalism she has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After studying physics at the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Knoxville, she earned her graduate degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting (SHERP) from New York University. Hanneke joined the Space.com team in 2016 as a staff writer and producer, covering topics including spaceflight and astronomy. She currently lives in Seattle, home of the Space Needle, with her cat and two snakes. In her spare time, Hanneke enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains, basking in nature and looking for dark skies to gaze at the cosmos. 

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