Ariane 6 soars with Eranda to OFSS2!

[Kyle]

OFSS2 is ever growing. The addition of the newest, largest module.. Eranda is about to be launched. Its July 4th, and an oddly American mood has fallen over a foreign launch pad. In addition, this piece of 4th of July fireworks shall launch one the heaviest payload by a rocket since Skylab (though Nexus is far bigger in mass)

The Ariane 6 sits in the spotlight and all systems are GO! Weather is cool, and calm with clear skies and the mission looks imminent. T-10.
9..
8..
7..
6..
5...
4, 3, 2, 1..
The main engine roars to life and the boosters ignite! LIFTOFF!

Vehicle is go! Going through MaxQ!

BOOSTER SEPARATION!

 

[Kyle]

The vehicle soars into the vacuum of space! Everything is NOMINAL, everything continues to look good! The 2nd flight of the brand new HLV Ariane 6 is working without a hitch. SECO hits the first stage and we have separation of the 1st and second stage!

She continues to sore into the sky! Fairing seperation--!

MECO hits the 3rd stage, Eranda is in orbit. The sun begins to rise on a glorious launch. The 3rd stage and the tug module begin to separate and pull away from one another.

Meanwhile on OFSS2 after the launch things begin to get busy with the PMA relocation. The RMS is carefully positioned to not hit the Dragon solar panels to the grapple fixture on the PMA and is grappled.

 

[Kyle]

After a careful excursion away from the port end of Neesys, the PMA is relocated to the nearest available CBM.

The next day, the Eranda module begins to station-keep with OFSS2. The thrusters fire in every direction to stabilize the trajectory between the two approaching vehicles.

DOCKING! Eranda docks to OFSS2! The newest module arrives! The tug module pulls away to deorbit the Earth.

PMA is relocated to the forward end of Neesys.

 

[Nazban]

nice pics!!:tiphat:

 

[IronRain]

Nice overview if the mission :thumbup:

 

[Kyle]

Thanks!