Wafaa with Ariane 5 launch VA253

Wafaa Tabibi, part of ESA’s Product Assurance Team of Ariane 6 Launch System Architects (under contract to Telespazio, Belgium), signing the fairing of the Ariane 5 flight VA253 at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The rocket was launched on 15 August 2020 carrying two telecom satellites Galaxy-30 and BSAT-4B, and the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2), into their planned transfer orbits. Also on this flight, were four notable technical modifications to Ariane 5: an onboard autonomous tracking kit called Kassav, a 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 Ariane 6. Flight VA253 was the 109th Ariane 5 mission.

Wafaa's role allows a strong collaboration with the Ariane 6 launcher system and launch base teams to ensure quality and process robustness. This position also offers a great opportunity to participate in various steps along the development to integrate, test and qualify the launcher and all the ground facilities.