Missing piece of thermal insulation on Ariane Flight 158

The missing piece of thermal insulation appears as a very small dark brown dot on the left-centre portion of the stage core cryogenic stage. This piece is located at the height of the two country flags that are below the letters 'esa'' on the solid rocket booster on the left.

The liftoff of Arianespace Flight 158 will therefore be delayed by a few days to allow for a minor repair to the external thermal protection on Ariane 5’s core cryogenic stage.