Maiden flight of the Ariane 5 GS variant, lifting off from Kourou with Thaicom 4 (iPStar-1), at 6,505 kg the heaviest telecommunications satellite launched to date. The GS combined uprated boosters and an EPS stage with ECA-derived avionics; the type went on to fly six times without failure.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- GTO
- Geostationary transfer orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 6.5 T
- Flight
- 1st
- of 6 Ariane 5 GS flights
- Date and time
- 11 August 2005, 08:20 UTC
- Rocket
- Ariane 5 GS
- Builder
- ArianeGroup
- Launch site
- Ariane Launch Area 3, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
- Payload
- Communications
- International designator
- 2005-028
- Launches in 2005
- 31st of 56
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