Name: Helios 1A — Ariane 40
Start: 1995-07-07T16:23:34Z
End: 1995-07-07T16:23:34Z
Location: Ariane Launch Area 2

Question 1

What rocket is launching Helios 1A?

Accepted Answer

Helios 1A is launching on the Ariane 40.

Question 2

Who is launching Helios 1A?

Accepted Answer

Helios 1A is being launched by Arianespace, a commercial launch provider founded in 1980.

Question 3

Where is Helios 1A launching from?

Accepted Answer

Helios 1A is launching from Ariane Launch Area 2 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.

Question 4

What orbit is Helios 1A heading to?

Accepted Answer

Helios 1A is heading to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Question 5

Is the Ariane 40 reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Ariane 40 is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Ariane 40 flown?

Accepted Answer

The Ariane 40 has launched 7 times to date, with 7 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the Helios 1A mission?

Accepted Answer

The Helios program is Europe's military optical reconnaissance system consisting of both a space and a ground segment, which commenced service in 1995, jointly funded by the French, Italian and Spanish governments. The Helios I optical observation satellites, launched in July 1995 and December 1999 respectively, can acquire high resolution images of any point on the globe, with daily revisit capability.

Question 8

Where is the Guiana Space Centre?

Accepted Answer

The Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais) is Europe's spaceport, near Kourou in French Guiana on the north-east coast of South America. It has been operational since 1968.

Question 9

Who operates the Guiana Space Centre?

Accepted Answer

France's space agency CNES runs the site, the European Space Agency (ESA) owns the launch infrastructure, and Arianespace operates the launch services.

Question 10

Which rockets launch from Kourou?

Accepted Answer

Current launches fly Ariane 6 from the ELA-4 complex and the lighter Vega-C from its dedicated pad. The James Webb Space Telescope launched from here on an Ariane 5 in 2021.

Question 11

Why launch from French Guiana?

Accepted Answer

Sitting just 5° north of the equator, the spaceport gives rockets a strong eastward boost from Earth's rotation and a clear path out over the Atlantic — a major advantage for reaching the geostationary orbits many large satellites need.

Helios 1A

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Ariane Launch Area 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Frequently asked questions