Rocket Science (Pt. 2): Ariane 5 — From Kourou to Orbit | Full Documentary

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Technology Weird Science Ariane 5 documentary Rocket Science documentary ESA Arianespace ArianeGroup Guiana Space Centre Kourou ELA-3 Vulcain engine

From rollout to payload separation—how Ariane 5 actually flies.
Part 2 of Rocket Science: The Ariane 5 Story takes you to the Guiana Space Centre (Kourou) to follow a real launch campaign: final assembly, rollout to ELA-3, cryogenic fueling, the synchronized countdown, liftoff, staging, fairing jettison, precise GTO injection, and dual-payload deployment.

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What You’ll See (Pt. 2: Launch Campaign & Operations)

Kourou & ELA-3: why Europe launches from the equator

Final assembly & payload integration: fairing, SYLDA & checks

Rollout & pad prep: connections, umbilicals, range safety

Cryogenic fueling: LOX/LH2 loading, chilldown & leak tests

Synchronized countdown: automation, redlines & holds

Liftoff & ascent: Vulcain + twin EAP boosters, guidance & control

Staging events: booster sep, fairing jettison, core cutoff, upper stage burn

Orbit insertion & deployment: accuracy requirements for commercial missions

Post-flight: telemetry, debriefs & why reliability built Ariane 5’s legacy

Chapters
0:00 From Kourou to Orbit: The Plan
2:40 The Guiana Space Centre & ELA-3
6:05 Final Assembly & Payload Integration
10:20 Rollout & Pad Connections
13:50 Fueling: LOX/LH2 & Readiness
18:40 T-0: Synchronized Countdown & Liftoff
22:30 Booster/Core/Upper-Stage Sequence
25:50 GTO Injection & Dual-Payload Release
29:40 Post-Flight Analysis & The Ariane Legacy

Details & Keywords
Ariane 5 documentary, Rocket Science documentary, ESA, Arianespace, ArianeGroup, Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, ELA-3, Vulcain engine, EAP solid boosters, HM7B upper stage, ESC-A, SYLDA, payload fairing, GTO mission, launch campaign, countdown, rocket operations, heavy-lift launch vehicle, European space program

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