Hélios 1B & Clémentine

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

16:22:00

Friday December 3, 1999

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Last flight of Ariane 40. Flight V123.

Clémentine

Wiki

Clémentine is a small satellite built by Alcatel Space (now Thales) for the French DGA, ostensibly "to study the Earth's radio-electrical environment from space." It is a successor to the Cerise satellite.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

50 kilograms

Hélios 1B

Wiki

The Hélios 1B was a French military photo-reconnaissance satellite in which Italy and Spain also participated. It was launched from the Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on 3 December 1999 at 16:22:00 UTC. The spacecraft rode aboard an Ariane 4 rocket which also carried the French military reconnaissance satellite, Clémentine. Due to power supply failures, it had to be left to disintegrate in 2005. It has been replaced by Hélios 2A, launched on December 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

2,540 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 40

Active 1990 to 1999

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 58.72m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 5,000 kg

GTO: 2,000 kg

Liftoff Thrust

3,034 Kilonewtons

Stages

3

Launch Site

ELA-2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

16 days

Stats

Ariane 4


92nd

Mission

8th

Mission of 1999

European Space Agency


111th

Mission

8th

Mission of 1999

1999


68th

Orbital launch attempt