April 14, 2023

[Success] Ariane 5 VA260 launch: JUICE probe (04/14)

Flight VA260 planned on April 13, 2023 has been delayed due to weather condition (risk of lightning) at the scheduled liftoff time from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and its passenger JUICE have been finaly launched on April 14, 2023, at 9:14 (Local time) - 14:14 (Paris time).

What are the conditions necessary for planets to form and for life to emerge? How was our solar system born? These are fundamental questions that the JUICE mission will attempt to answer when it reaches its destination in 2030 to study Jupiter and three of its moons.

VA260 : the launch

  • Launcher: Ariane 5
  • Satellite onboard: JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, l'explorateur des lunes glacées de Jupiter)
  • Launch base: Guiana Space Center
  • Unique Launch Window : 9:14 (Local time) ; 14:14 (Paris time)

Frid14April

The launch show is followed by a press conference.

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