Ariane flight VA256

Ariane flight VA256
VA256
Ariane 5 containing the James Webb Space Telescope moments after lift-off
Ariane 5 ECA+ launch
Launch25 December 2021 (2021-12-25), 12:20:00 UTC[1]
OperatorArianespace
PadGuyana Space Centre, ELA-3
PayloadJames Webb Space Telescope
OutcomeSuccess[2]
Components
Serial no.5113
Ariane launches
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Ariane flight VA256 was an Ariane 5 rocket flight that launched the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) into space on 25 December 2021.[3] It was 2021's final Ariane flight, its most valuable payload to date, and the 256th Ariane mission. The launch was described by NASA as "flawless" and "perfect".[4]

  1. ^ Loff, Sarah (21 December 2021). "James Webb Space Telescope Launch Update". NASA. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. ^ Strickland, Ashley. "The most powerful telescope ever built has successfully launched". CNN. CNN. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ArianeRelease20211225 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Tereza Pultarova (25 December 2021). "'It's truly Christmas': James Webb Space Telescope's yuletide launch has NASA overjoyed". Space.com.