Ariane 6 completes first geostationary transfer orbit mission

(SpaceEnergy) Ariane 6 has completed its first mission to geostationary transfer orbit, successfully placing Europe’s MTG-I2 meteorological satellite on its planned trajectory.

Arianespace launched the second Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite aboard the two-booster Ariane 62 configuration from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 27 August.

The satellite was injected into geostationary transfer orbit at an altitude of 2,778 km above the Equator and separated from the launcher 36 minutes after liftoff. It is continuing towards its operational geostationary orbit at 36,000 km.

The mission was the ninth Ariane 6 launch and the sixth using the Ariane 62 configuration. Arianespace said it was the launcher’s first flight to geostationary transfer orbit.

ArianeGroup said the flight follows the introduction earlier this year of the four-booster Ariane 64 configuration and enhanced P160C solid rocket boosters, marking another stage in the launcher’s ramp-up.

Ariane 6 was developed under the European Space Agency programme, with ArianeGroup as launcher prime contractor and Arianespace responsible for launch services.