Arianespace’s second launch of 2023 with the last Ariane 5 ever will place its satellite passengers into geostationary transfer orbit. The launcher will be carrying a total payload of approximately 7680 kg. The launch will be performed from Kourou, French Guiana.   PAYLOADS : Heinrich-Hertz-Mission : As the need for global communications bandwidth rapidly increases, so do the demands on communications satellites. Communications satellites capable of handling modern and future demands must therefore make use of increasingly high-performance technologies. The Heinrich Hertz mission is the first dedicated German communications satellite for researching and testing new technologies and communications scenarios. The technologies on board will respond smartly and flexibly to future satellite communications challenges, support future communications scenarios and be adapted from Earth to address new technical requirements and market conditions. The mission is thus making an important contribution to the information society in Germany. The Heinrich Hertz mission is managed by the German Space Agency at DLR in Bonn on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), with the participation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg). OHB-System AG was contracted to develop and build the satellite. A total of 42 partners are participating in the mission, of which 14 are involved in the scientific payload.   • Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit will be the 28th OHB System AG satellite to be launched by Arianespace. • VA261 is the first mission operated by Arianespace for the German Space Agency   DID YOU KNOW ? The Heinrich Hertz mission is a pioneer. The German smart satellite is capable of processing information on board while in space. Its two onboard processors are used for digital signal processing in orbit and can be flexibly reprogrammed from Earth. As a result, new communications scenarios can be developed and tested using the satellite.   SYRACUSE 4B : Ordered by the French defense procurement agency (DGA), this satellite will enable the French Armed Forces to remain permanently connected during deployments. Whether at sea, in the air or on land, military personnel need powerful, secure communications to exchange information with the command center. Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment (anti-jamming antenna, digital processor, etc.), SYRACUSE 4B will be totally protected against the most extreme jamming methods. Built to defend French sovereignty, the satellite will also be able to support operations led by NATO and the EU. The SYRACUSE IV military telecommunications satellite system, comprising 2 satellites, SYRACUSE 4A and 4B, is being built for the DGA by an industrial consortium formed by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the SYRACUSE 4A satellite, based on its 100% electric SpaceBus Neo platform, and for the two payloads. Airbus Defence and Space is responsible for the SYRACUSE 4B satellite, based on the all-electric version of the Eurostar platform, and supplies critical elements of both payloads. Thales Alenia Space is the lead contractor responsible for relations with the French Ministry for the Armed Forces.   • SYRACUSE 4B is the 49th satellite to be launched by Arianespace for French insitutions. • The satellite will be the 141st satellite manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space to be launched by Arianespace.   DID YOU KNOW ? The SYRACUSE IV program (Roman numerals to designate the complete system) includes the two military satellites (SYRACUSE 4A and 4B) and the ground stations for communications within theaters of operation and with mainland France.

On June 16, Arianespace will launch Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit, designed and manufactured by OHB System on behalf of the German Space Agency with funding of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Change and with the participation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence, and SYRACUSE 4B, designed and manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space for the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). The mission will place both payloads into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Flight VA261 will be the 117th and last mission of Ariane 5, the European workhorse which will be replaced by the new European heavy launcher Ariane 6. On Friday, June 16, 2023, between 6:26 p.m. and 08:01 p.m. local time (between 09:26 p.m. and 11:01 p.m. UTC), Arianespace will launch an Ariane 5 carrying Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit for the German Space Agency and SYRACUSE 4B for the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). The mission, designated VA261, will last 33 minutes and 31 seconds and place both payloads into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit. For this launch, Arianespace will serve, for the first time, the German Space Agency on behalf of the German Government by orbiting the Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit, as well as the French Ministry of Defence, owner of the SYRACUSE 4B satellite. The latter is part of the SYRACUSE defence program together with the SYRACUSE 4A satellite, also launched by an Ariane 5 vehicle in October 2021. Both payloads will serve the need for a higher and better telecommunications system, reserved to military and institutional uses. The Heinrich-Hertz-Mission is the first dedicated German telecommunications satellite-based mission that will be used to conduct research and to test new technologies and telecommunications scenarios. The technologies on board are meant to respond smartly and flexibly to future challenges, to support future telecommunications scenarios and to be adapted from Earth to address new technical requirements and market needs. The mission is managed by the German Space Agency on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and with the participation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg). The Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit was mainly developed and built by OHB System. SYRACUSE 4B satellite, delivered by the DGA to the French Air and Space force and the French Space Commander, will allow, in conjunction with the SYRACUSE 4A satellite to connect the armed forces together when deployed. On the ground, at sea, on the air and even in space, militaries needs secured, militaries need secured and powerful communication means in order to be able to exchange information with the command center. Thanks to its state-of-the-art equipment (active antenna and digital transparent processor), SYRACUSE 4B will guarantee a high resistance to extreme military threats. At the service of France’s sovereignty, the satellite will also support NATO operations. To produce SYRACUSE 4B and SYRACUSE 4A satellites and their associated payloads, Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space joined forces to contribute their expertise to this high-end military telecommunications programme.       The launch at a glance: → 347th launch for the Arianespace family of launchers. → Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit and SYRACUSE 4B will be the 1152nd and 1153rd satellites to be launched by Arianespace. → 117th launch of Ariane 5 overall.