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ArianespaceVegaAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
LISA Pathfinder
Launched
December 3, 2015 · 04:04 UTC
Summary
LISA Pathfinder launched on an Arianespace Vega from Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on December 3, 2015 at 04:04 UTC. It was Arianespace's 239th launch, 11th this year and humanity's 5,516th orbital launch attempt. It was the 6th Vega flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for Heliocentric L1 (L1-point). LISA Pathfinder, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 221 × 1,490 km orbit inclined 6.0°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- Vehicle
- Vega · Arianespace
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Astrophysics · Heliocentric L1 (L1-point)
- Milestone
- 6th Vega flight · 3rd this yearArianespace's 239th launch11th this yearhumanity's 5,516th orbital launch attempt74th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
LISA Pathfinder · NORAD 41043 · 2015-070 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2015-070A
- Epoch
- 2015-12-03 10:41:45 UTC
- Mean motion
- 14.1329667 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0877903
- Inclination
- 5.9796°
- Ascending node
- 4.8856°
- Arg. of perigee
- 69.8949°
- Mean anomaly
- 331.1958°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 2
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: L1-point. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage
- LISA Pathfinder · NORAD 41043 · left Earth orbit December 12, 2015
Vega AVUM VV06 · re-entered March 16, 2017
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
LISA Pathfinder will pave the way for future missions by testing in flight the very concept of gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. LISA Pathfinder will use the latest technology to minimise the extra forces on the test masses, and to take measurements. The inertial sensors, the laser metrology system, the drag-free control system and an ultra-precise micro-propulsion system make this a highly unusual mission.
Pad
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
32nd launch from Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), 3rd this year · 254th from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 3, 1:04 AM GMT-3, at night
56 launches from this pad · 336 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
163 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaOpen in maps
Questions
When did LISA Pathfinder launch?
LISA Pathfinder launched on December 3, 2015 at 04:04 UTC.
Where can I watch LISA Pathfinder?
Coverage: Liftoff of Vega Flight VV06 with LISA Pathfinder. Watch the replay
What rocket launched LISA Pathfinder?
Vega, flown by Arianespace. Vega spec sheet
Where did LISA Pathfinder launch from?
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana. Liftoff was Dec 3, 1:04 AM GMT-3 local time at the pad.
What orbit did LISA Pathfinder reach?
LISA Pathfinder, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 221 × 1,490 km orbit inclined 6.0°.
How many satellites did LISA Pathfinder launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).