In Photos: Ariane 5 Rocket Launches DirecTV 16 and Eutelsat 7C Satellites
(Image credit: Arianespace)
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
(Image credit: Arianespace)
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).
(Image credit: Arianespace)
Ariane 5 Takes to the Skies
Despite the scattered thunderstorms in the area on launch day, the mission lifted off into surprisingly clear skies.
(Image credit: Arianespace)
Stage Separation
The rocket's two side boosters are clearly visible after stage separation.
(Image credit: Stéphane Israël/Arianespace/Twitter)
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.
(Image credit: Stéphane Israël/Arianespace/Twitter)
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.
(Image credit: Stéphane Israël/Arianespace/Twitter)
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.
(Image credit: Arianespace)
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.
(Image credit: Arianespace)
Fueling Up
The T-16 communications satellite is filled with propellant at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
(Image credit: AT&T)
DirecTV 16
An artist's rendering of the T-16 communications satellite, also known as DirecTV 16.
(Image credit: Eutelsat Communications)
Eutelsat 7C
A digital mockup of the Eutelsat 7C telecommunications satellite in orbit.
Hanneke Weitering is an editor at Space.com with 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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