Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
16:22:00
Friday December 3, 1999
Last flight of Ariane 40. Flight V123.
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
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 It has been replaced by Hélios 2A, launched on December 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket.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
92nd
Mission
8th
Mission of 1999
111th
Mission
8th
Mission of 1999
68th
Orbital launch attempt