The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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On 15 August 2020, Ariane 5 flight VA253 lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana and delivered two telecom satellites Galaxy-30 and BSAT-4B, and the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2), into their planned transfer orbits.
Also on this flight, there were four notable technical modifications to Ariane 5: an onboard autonomous tracking kit called Kassav, vented nose cone from RUAG in Switzerland and new materials for a lighter upper stage and vehicle equipment bay (VEB) – the ‘brain’ of the launch vehicle.
These modifications will continue to be used on all Ariane 5 flights and also incorporated in the upcoming Ariane 6.
Flight VA253 was the 109th Ariane 5 mission.