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 23 October 2021, Ariane 5 flight VA255 lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to deliver two telecom satellites, SES-17 and Syracuse-4A to their planned orbits.
With a launch performance of 11.2 t, and a combined payload mass of about 10 263 kg, this is Ariane 5’s heaviest payload to geostationary transfer orbit so far.
Flight VA255 was the 111th Ariane 5 mission.