Global InformationAriane 5 information
 Ariane 5 flight VA-256 on the launch pad with the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 | |
| Function | Heavy launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | ArianeGroup for ESA |
| Country of origin | 20 ESA member states:
|
| Cost per launch | €150–200 million (as of 2016)[1] |
| Size | |
| Height | 46–52 m (151–171 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Mass | 777,000 kg (1,713,000 lb)[clarification needed] |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to Low Earth orbit | |
| Altitude | 260 km (160 mi) (circular) |
| Orbital inclination | 51.6° |
| Mass | G: 16,000 kg (35,000 lb) ES: over 20,000 kg (44,000 lb)[2] |
| Payload to GTO | |
| Mass |
|
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Ariane |
| Comparable |
|
| Launch history | |
| Status |
|
| Launch sites | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3 |
| Total launches | 117
|
| Success(es) | 112
|
| Failure(s) | 2 (G: 1, ECA: 1) |
| Partial failure(s) | 3 (G: 2, ECA: 1) |
| First flight |
|
| Last flight |
|
| Type of passengers/cargo |
|
| Boosters (G, G+) – EAP P238 | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Height | 31.6 m (104 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.06 m (10.0 ft) |
| Gross mass | 270 t (270 long tons; 300 short tons) |
| Powered by | P238 |
| Maximum thrust | 6,650 kN (1,490,000 lbf) |
| Total thrust | 13,300 kN (3,000,000 lbf) |
| Burn time | 130 seconds |
| Propellant | AP, Aluminium, HTPB |
| Boosters (GS, ECA, ES) – EAP P241 | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Height | 31.6 m (104 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.06 m (10.0 ft) |
| Empty mass | 33 t (32 long tons; 36 short tons) |
| Gross mass | 273 t (269 long tons; 301 short tons) |
| Powered by | P241 |
| Maximum thrust | 7,080 kN (1,590,000 lbf) |
| Total thrust | 14,160 kN (3,180,000 lbf) |
| Burn time | 140 seconds |
| Propellant | AP, Aluminium, HTPB |
| Core stage (G, G+, GS) – EPC H158 | |
| Height | 23.8 m (78 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Empty mass | 12,200 kg (26,900 lb) |
| Gross mass | 170,500 kg (375,900 lb) |
| Powered by | G, G+: Vulcain 1 GS: Vulcain 1B |
| Maximum thrust | 1,015 kN (228,000 lbf) (vacuum) |
| Specific impulse | 440 seconds (vacuum) |
| Burn time | 605 seconds |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
| Core stage (ECA, ES) – EPC H173 | |
| Height | 23.8 m (78 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Empty mass | 14,700 kg (32,400 lb) |
| Gross mass | 184,700 kg (407,200 lb) |
| Powered by | Vulcain 2 |
| Maximum thrust | 960 kN (220,000 lbf) (sea level) 1,390 kN (310,000 lbf) (vacuum) |
| Specific impulse | 310 seconds (sea level) 432 seconds (vacuum) |
| Burn time | 540 seconds |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
| Second stage (G) – EPS L9.7 | |
| Height | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Empty mass | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) |
| Gross mass | 10,900 kg (24,000 lb) |
| Powered by | Aestus |
| Maximum thrust | 27 kN (6,100 lbf) |
| Burn time | 1100 seconds |
| Propellant | MMH / N2O4 |
| Second stage (G+, GS, ES) – EPS L10 | |
| Height | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Empty mass | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) |
| Gross mass | 11,200 kg (24,700 lb) |
| Powered by | Aestus |
| Maximum thrust | 27 kN (6,100 lbf) |
| Burn time | 1170 seconds |
| Propellant | MMH / N2O4 |
| Second stage (ECA) – ESC-A | |
| Height | 4.711 m (15.46 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Empty mass | 4,540 kg (10,010 lb) |
| Gross mass | 19,440 kg (42,860 lb) |
| Powered by | HM7B |
| Maximum thrust | 67 kN (15,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 446 seconds |
| Burn time | 945 seconds |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
Ariane 5 is a retired European heavy-lift space launch vehicle developed and operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in French Guiana. It was used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), low Earth orbit (LEO) or further into space. The launch vehicle had a streak of 82 consecutive successful launches between 9 April 2003 and 12 December 2017. Since 2014,[4] Ariane 6, a direct successor system, is in development.[5]
The system was designed as an expendable launch system by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French government's space agency, in cooperation with various European partners. Despite not being a direct derivative of its predecessor launch vehicle program, it was classified as part of the Ariane rocket family. ArianeGroup was the prime contractor for the manufacturing of the vehicles, leading a multi-country consortium of other European contractors. Ariane 5 was originally intended to launch the Hermes spacecraft, and thus it was rated for human space launches.
Since its first launch, Ariane 5 was refined in successive versions: "G", "G+", "GS", "ECA", and finally, "ES". The system had a commonly used dual-launch capability, where up to two large geostationary belt communication satellites can be mounted using a SYLDA (Système de Lancement Double Ariane, meaning "Ariane Double-Launch System") carrier system. Up to three, somewhat smaller, main satellites are possible depending on size using a SPELTRA (Structure Porteuse Externe Lancement Triple Ariane, which translates to "Ariane Triple-Launch External Carrier Structure"). Up to eight secondary payloads, usually small experiment packages or minisatellites, could be carried with an ASAP (Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads) platform.
Following the launch of 15 August 2020, Arianespace signed the contracts for the last eight Ariane 5 launches, before it was succeeded by the new Ariane 6 launcher, according to Daniel Neuenschwander, director of space transportation at the ESA.[6][5] Ariane 5 flew its final mission on 5 July 2023.[7]
- ^ "Arianespace aims high in Asia-Pacific". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ESAA5ESwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Arianespace begins building final 10 Ariane 5s ahead of Ariane 6 operational debut". Space Daily. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Berger, Eric (21 June 2021). "The Ariane 6 debut is slipping again as Europe hopes for a late 2022 launch". Ars Technica. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter D. "MTG-S 1, 2 (Meteosat 13, 16 / Sentinel 4A, 4B)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Debuting upgrades, Ariane 5 rocket deploys three U.S.-built satellites in orbit". Spaceflight Now. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ Svenson, Adam (6 July 2023). "Last Ariane 5 Mission Leaves Europe Without Launch Capacity". AIR SPACE News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.