Another find in my ESA office as I clear it out ahead of my imminent departure: some fragments recovered from the explosion of the first Ariane 5 flight V88 / 501 on 4 June 1996, carrying the four Cluster magnetospheric satellites 🛰️🛰️🛰️🛰️
The satellites were rebuilt & successfully launched on two Soyuz rockets in 2000: they are still in operation today, although their end is near now 🥺
The 117th & final launch of an #Ariane5 rocket is scheduled this afternoon.
Ariane 5 has played a crucial role in ESA's science programme from the very first flight, the failed launch of Cluster I in 1996, to almost the last, with JUICE's success in April.
And between have come XMM-Newton, Rosetta, Herschel, Planck, BepiColombo, & JWST, all outstanding scientific missions 👏
Thank you Arianespace & CNES, & ad astra, Ariane 5 🙇♂️🚀✨