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Ariane 5 launch timeline
Posted: January 30, 2014

H0 Main Engine Ignition
The Ariane 5 rocket's first stage Vulcain 2 main engine ignites and undergoes a thorough health check on the launch pad.
H0+00:07.3 Launch
Producing about 2.6 million pounds of thrust, the Ariane 5 rocket's two solid rocket boosters ignite to lift the launcher into the sky.
H0+00:12.6 Start Pitch Maneuver
The Ariane 5 rocket begins to pitch over after rising vertically from the ELA-3 launch pad.
H0+00:17.1 Start Roll Maneuver
The Ariane 5 rocket starts its roll maneuver to head east away from the Guiana Space Center.
H0+02:22 Booster Separation
The solid rocket boosters exhaust their propellant and are jettisoned from the Ariane 5's first stage.
H0+03:20 Jettison Payload Fairing
The two halves of the Ariane 5's 5.4-meter, or 17.7-foot, diameter payload fairing are jettisoned once the rocket leaves the thick lower atmosphere.
H0+08:49 Main Stage Shutdown
The cryogenic first stage's Vulcain 2 main engine shuts down.
H0+08:55 Stage Separation
Explosive bolts fire to separate the Ariane 5's first and second stages.
H0+08:59 Upper Stage Ignition
The upper stage's HM7B engine, burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, ignites to propel the ABS 2 and Athena-Fidus satellites to orbit.
H0+25:05 Upper Stage Shutdown 1
The upper stage's HM7B engine shuts down after reaching an orbit with a low point of 153 miles, a high point of 22,330 miles and an inclination of 6 degrees.
H0+27:19 ABS 2 Separation
The Ariane 5 rocket deploys the ABS 2 communications satellite for Asia Broadcast Satellite of Hong Kong.
H0+30:15 Sylda 5 Separation
The Sylda 5 dual-payload adapter is jettisoned to expose the Athena-Fidus satellite for separation.
H0+32:28 Athena-Fidus Separation
The Ariane 5 rocket deploys the Athena-Fidus communications satellite to serve the French and Italian defense ministries.

Data source: Arianespace/EADS Astrium