Ariane flight VA245

The payload of the launcher was the BepiColombo spacecraft. The total payload mass was approximately {{convert|4241|kg}}, including the payload adapter.

{{Main|BepiColombo}}

BepiColombo had a liftoff mass of approximately {{convert|4081|kg}}. It comprises 3 different elements that will remain attached together during launch and cruise to Mercury: the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM), the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio or MMO). The assembly was accommodated inside the long version of the upper stage fairing. BepiColombo, a joint mission between ESA and JAXA, is Europe's first space mission to Mercury. The European modules (MTM and MPO) were designed and manufactured by Airbus at its Friedrichshafen site in Germany as prime contractor for ESA, heading a consortium of 83 companies from 16 countries.{{cite web|title=BepiColombo is readied for its October 19 Ariane 5 flight on a mission to Mercury|url=http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/va245-bepicolombo-preparations/|website=Arianespace|date=2 October 2018|accessdate=14 October 2018|language=en}} The Japanese module (Mio) was built by ISAS for JAXA. This flight was Airbus's {{Ordinal|121}} mission, ESA's {{Ordinal|51}} mission and {{Ordinal|73}} spacecraft launched by Arianespace, and the latter's {{Ordinal|23}} deep space mission.

The {{Ordinal|7}} Arianespace launch of 2018 took place on 20 October 2018 at 01:45:28{{nbsp}}UTC (19 October 2018 22:45:28 local time) from Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) in Kourou, French Guiana.{{cite web|title=Flight VA245: Arianespace to deliver BepiColombo, Europe's first mission to Mercury, for ESA and JAXA|url=http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-va245-arianespace-to-deliver-bepicolombo-europes-first-mission-to-mercury-for-esa-and-jaxa/|website=Arianespace|date=12 October 2018|accessdate=14 October 2018|language=en}}{{cite web|title=Supporting science: BepiColombo is integrated atop the Ariane 5 launcher for its mission to Mercury|url=http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/va245-bepicolombo-integrated/|website=Arianespace|date=12 October 2018|accessdate=14 October 2018|language=en}}

The different parts of the spacecraft arrived in French Guiana between April 24 and May 9. Deployment testing of BepiColombo{{'s}} MTM 2 solar arrays (which will generate up to 11.2 kW of power) were performed at the Guiana Space Centre in the SC5 facilities.{{cite web|title=BepiColombo "spreads its wings" in preparation for Arianespace's October launch|url=http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/va245-bepicolombo-testing/|website=Arianespace|date=1 August 2018|accessdate=14 October 2018|language=en}} The MMO was integrated on the MPO between August 20 and 21. They were both integrated on the MTM between September 19 and 20 to complete BepiColombo. BepiColombo was assembled with its payload adapter on October 4, integrated on the launch vehicle on October 9, and enclosed within the fairing on October 11. The launch readiness review toko place on 17 October 2018 in Kourou to authorise the start of the final operations.

The launch lasted 26 minutes and 47 seconds until separation, placing BepiColombo into a Mercury transfer orbit, escaping the Earth with a hyperbolic escape velocity of about {{Convert|3.475|km/s}} and at an inclination of about -3.8 degrees. It is expected to be captured by and start orbiting Mercury approximately on 5 December 2025, after a 7-year travel that will include several flybys of the Earth, Venus, and Mercury itself.{{cite web|title=BepiColombo fact sheet|url=http://sci.esa.int/bepicolombo/47346-fact-sheet/|website=ESA|date=14 September 2018|accessdate=14 October 2018|language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/VA245-launchkit-EN.pdf Presskit] for Ariane Flight VA245 by Arianespace

{{Arianespace launches}}

{{Ariane}}

VA245, Ariane flight

Category:2018 in spaceflight

Category:October 2018 in South America

Category:2018 in French Guiana

Category:Rocket launches in 2018