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The only failure occurred on July 10, 2019, as Arianespace was launching the Falcon Eye 1 satellite for the United Arab Emirates as part of Vega Flight VV15. A failure in the forward dome of the Zefiro-23 second stage at just over two minutes into the flight resulted in the loss of the vehicle and spacecraft.<\/p>\n
A total of 47 metric tons of payload was placed into orbit for 15 customers, with 38 metric tons being launched to geostationary orbit.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s opening mission saw two more satellites \u2013 Eutelsat\u2019s KONNECT spacecraft and GSAT-30 \u2013 launched as part of the 107th Ariane 5 mission, and the 74th with the ECA version of the launcher.<\/p>\n
The total payload mass for this mission was officially listed as being 7,888 kilograms (17,390 pounds). This included the two satellites, the payload deployment systems, and other integration hardware.<\/p>\n
The first spacecraft deployed during the launch sequence was Eutelsat KONNECT, a spacecraft developed by Thales Alenia Space and operated by Paris-based Eutelsat.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Konnect_d%C3%83%C2%A9ploiement-reflecteurs_1100.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEutelsat KONNECT under construction at Thales Alenia Space \u2013 credit: Thales Alenia Space<\/p>\n
Weighing in at 3,619 kilograms (7,987 pounds) at liftoff and using high-throughput Ka-band capabilities, Eutelsat KONNECT will provide broadband Internet and communications services to 40 European countries and 15 African countries.<\/p>\n
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Once in orbit, the spacecraft will offer a total capacity of 75 gigabits per second (Gbps) and will allow Eutelsat to provide Internet access for companies and individuals at 100 megabits per second (Mbps).<\/p>\n
Eutelsat KONNECT is the first spacecraft built on the new Spacebus NEO satellite platform developed by Thales Alenia Space. The spacecraft also features an all-electric propulsion system and has an on-orbit design life of 15 years.<\/p>\n
Eutelsat KONNECT was the 163rd satellite launched by Arianespace for Thales Alenia Space, and the 34th Eutelsat spacecraft launched by Arianespace since 1983. There are five other Thales Alenia Space-developed satellites in Arianespace\u2019s backlog, along with six more launches for Eutelsat.<\/p>\n
The spacecraft was deployed at 27 minutes and 30 seconds into Thursday\u2019s flight.<\/p>\n
The second and final spacecraft deployed during the launch was GSAT-30, a telecommunications satellite developed and manufactured by the Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/79005277_2582995241777896_2128297307534262272_n1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGSAT-30 undergoing checkouts prior to launch \u2013 credit: Arianespace<\/p>\n
GSAT-30 had a launch mass of 3,357 kilograms (7,400 pounds) and is built on the I-3K satellite platform. The spacecraft will be stationed at the 83 degree East longitude position once in orbit and will provide high-quality television and communications services to the Indian mainland.<\/p>\n
GSAT-30 features C-band and Ku-band antennae, and has an on-orbit design life of over 15 years.<\/p>\n
The spacecraft was deployed at the 38 minute and 25 second mark during Thursday\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n
GSAT-30 is expected to replace the INSAT-4A spacecraft in orbit, which was launched on an Ariane 5 in December 2005.<\/p>\n
Since the launch of the experimental APPLE spacecraft on Ariane Flight L03 in June 1981, Arianespace has launched 23 satellites and has signed 24 launch contracts with the Indian space agency.<\/p>\n
Ariane Flight VA251 is expected to be the first of five Ariane 5 flights on the year, as Arianespace prepares to head a record-setting launch cadence for 2020.<\/p>\n
According to Arianespace, up to twenty launches are on the manifest for this year, with the intention of deploying over 300 satellites into orbit.<\/p>\n
Twelve of those launches are expected to occur out of the European Space Center, with the other eight coming from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia as part of the OneWeb satellite constellation deployment.<\/p>\n
Vega\u2019s \u201creturn-to-flight\u201d mission, Flight VV16, is also scheduled to occur no earlier than March, with multiple satellite payloads serving as the passengers for the SSMC POC rideshare mission.<\/p>\n
The debut flights of the upgraded Vega-C launcher and the Ariane 6 rocket are also on the cards for Arianespace, with the maiden flight of the newer-generation Ariane currently planned for the second half of the year.<\/p>\n