Arianespace Flight VA233 / Galileo FOC-M6 - SAT 15-16-17-18

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 launcher has begun its latest mission from the Spaceport, carrying four satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system. Lifting off at exactly 10:06:48 a.m. local time in French Guiana, the heavy-lift vehicle is to deploy its passengers on a flight lasting approximately 3 hrs., 55 min. Payload lift performance for today’s mission – which is designated Flight VA233 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system – is estimated at 3,290 kg. Galileo is an important infrastructure