Ariane 5
![]() Ariane 5 ES with ATV-4 on board on its way to the launch pad in June 2013. | |
Function | Heavy launch vehicle |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space for ESA |
Country of origin | 20 ESA member states: |
Cost per launch | US$165–220 million[1] |
Size | |
Height | 46–52 m (151–171 ft) |
Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
Mass | 777,000 kg (1,713,000 lb) |
Stages | 2 |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO (260 km (160 mi) circular, 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 | 108
|
Success(es) | 103
|
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 tonnes (300 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 tonnes (36 tons) |
Gross mass | 273 tonnes (301 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 heavy-lift space launch vehicle developed and operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It is launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana. It has been used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) or low Earth orbit (LEO). A direct successor system, Ariane 6, is in development.[4]
The system was originally designed as an expendable launch system by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French government's space agency, in close cooperation with Germany and other European partners.[5] Despite not being a direct derivative of its predecessor rocket program, it is classified as part of the Ariane rocket family. Airbus Defence and Space is the prime contractor for the vehicles, leading a multi-country consortium of other European contractors. ESA originally designed Ariane 5 to launch the Hermes spaceplane, and thus it is rated for human space launches.
Since its first launch, Ariane 5 has been refined in successive versions: "G", "G+", "GS", "ECA", and most recently, "ES". The system has 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, "Ariane Double-Launch System") carrier system. Up to three, somewhat smaller, main satellites are possible depending on size using SPELTRA (Structure Porteuse Externe Lancement Triple Ariane, "Ariane Triple-Launch External Carrier Structure"). Up to eight secondary payloads, usually small experiment packages or minisatellites, can be carried with an ASAP (Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads) platform.
As of September 2024, Arianespace had signed contracts for Ariane 5 ECA launches up through 2023, approximately two years following the planned introduction of Ariane 6 in early 2021.[4]
Vehicle description
Cryogenic main stage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/SNECMA_Vulcain_II.jpg/150px-SNECMA_Vulcain_II.jpg)
Ariane 5's cryogenic H173 main stage (H158 for Ariane 5 G, G+, and GS) is called the EPC (Étage Principal Cryotechnique — Cryotechnic Main Stage). It consists of a large tank 30.5 metres high[clarification needed] with two compartments, one for liquid oxygen and one for liquid hydrogen, and a Vulcain 2 engine at the base with a vacuum thrust of 1,390 kilonewtons (310,000 lbf). The H173 EPC weighs about 189 tonnes, including 175 tonnes of propellant.[6] After the main cryogenic stage runs out of fuel, it re-enters the atmosphere for an ocean splashdown.
Solid boosters
Attached to the sides are two P241 (P238 for Ariane 5 G and G+) solid rocket boosters (SRBs or EAPs from the French Étages d'Accélération à Poudre), each weighing about 277 tonnes full and delivering a thrust of about 7,080 kilonewtons (1,590,000 lbf). They are fueled by a mix of ammonium perchlorate (68%) and aluminium fuel (18%) and HTPB (14%). They each burn for 130 seconds before being dropped into the ocean. The SRBs are usually allowed to sink to the bottom of the ocean, but, like the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters, they can be recovered with parachutes, and this has occasionally been done for post-flight analysis. Unlike Space Shuttle SRBs, Ariane 5 boosters are not reused. The most recent attempt was for the first Ariane 5 ECA mission in 2009. One of the two boosters was successfully recovered and returned to the Guiana Space Center for analysis.[7] Prior to that mission, the last such recovery and testing was done in 2003.
The French M51 SLBM shares a substantial amount of technology with these boosters.
In February 2000, the suspected nose cone of an Ariane 5 booster washed ashore on the South Texas coast, and was recovered by beachcombers before the government could get to it.[8]
Second stage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Ariane_5_EPS_Upper_Stage.jpg/150px-Ariane_5_EPS_Upper_Stage.jpg)
The second stage is on top of the main stage and below the payload. The original Ariane — Ariane 5 G — used the EPS (Étage à Propergols Stockables — Storable Propellant Stage), which was fueled by monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide, containing 10 tonnes (22,000 lb) of storable propellant. The EPS was subsequently improved for use on the Ariane 5 G+, GS, and ES. Ariane 5 ECA uses the ESC (Étage Supérieur Cryotechnique — Cryogenic Upper Stage), which is fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.[9]
The EPS upper stage is capable of multiple ignitions, first demonstrated during flight V26 which was launched on 5 October 2007. This was purely to test the engine, and occurred after the payloads had been deployed. The first operational use of restart capability as part of a mission came on 9 March 2008, when two burns were made to deploy the first Automated Transfer Vehicle into a circular parking orbit, followed by a third burn after ATV deployment to de-orbit the stage. This procedure was repeated for all subsequent ATV flights.
Fairing
The payload and all upper stages are covered at launch by a fairing for aerodynamic stability and protection from heating during supersonic flight and acoustic loads. It is jettisoned once sufficient altitude has been reached (typically above 100 km). It is made by Ruag Space and since flight VA-238 it is composed of 4 panels.[10][clarification needed]
Variants
Variant | Description |
---|---|
G | The original version is dubbed Ariane 5 G (Generic) and had a launch mass of 737 tonnes. Its payload capability to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) was 6,900 kilograms (15,200 lb) for a single satellite or 6,100 kilograms (13,400 lb) for dual launches. It flew 17 times with one failure and two partial failures.[11] |
G+ | The Ariane 5 G+ had an improved EPS second stage, with a GTO capacity of 7,100 kilograms (15,700 lb) for a single payload or 6,300 kilograms (13,900 lb) for two. It flew three times in 2004, with no failures.[12] |
GS | At the time of the failure of the first Ariane 5 ECA flight in 2002, all Ariane 5 launchers in production were ECA versions. Some of the ECA cores were modified to use the original Vulcain engine and tank volumes while the failure was investigated; these vehicles were designated Ariane 5 GS. The GS used the improved EAP boosters of the ECA variant and the improved EPS of the G+ variant, but the increased mass of the modified ECA core compared to the G and G+ core resulted in slightly reduced payload capacity.[13] Ariane 5 GS could carry a single payload of 6,600 kilograms (14,600 lb) or a dual payload of 5,800 kilograms (12,800 lb) to GTO. The Ariane 5 GS flew 6 times from 2005 to 2009 with no failures.[14] |
ECA | The Ariane 5 ECA (Evolution Cryotechnique type A), first successfully flown in 2005, uses an improved Vulcain 2 first-stage engine with a longer, more efficient nozzle with a more efficient flow cycle and denser propellant ratio. The new ratio required length modifications to the first-stage tanks. The EPS second stage was replaced by the ESC-A (Etage Supérieur Cryogénique-A), which has a dry weight of 2,100 kilograms (4,600 lb) and is powered by an HM-7B engine burning 14,000 kilograms (31,000 lb) of cryogenic propellant. The ESC-A uses the liquid oxygen tank and lower structure from the Ariane 4's H10 third stage, mated to a new liquid hydrogen tank. Additionally, the EAP booster casings were lightened with new welds and carry more propellant. The Ariane 5 ECA has a GTO launch capacity of 9,100 kilograms (20,100 lb) for dual payloads or 9,600 kilograms (21,200 lb) for a single payload.[15] |
ES | The Ariane 5 ES (Evolution Storable) has an estimated LEO launch capacity of 21,000 kilograms (46,000 lb). It includes all the performance improvements of Ariane 5 ECA core and boosters but replaces the ESC-A second stage with the restartable EPS used on Ariane 5 GS variants. It was used to launch the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) into a 260 km circular low Earth orbit inclined at 51.6° and has been used 3 times to launch 4 Galileo navigation satellites at a time directly into their operational orbit.[2] The Ariane 5 ES flew 8 times from 2008 to 2018 with no failures. |
ME (cancelled) | The Ariane 5 ME (Mid-life Evolution) was under development until the end of 2014. The last ESA ministerial council of December 2014 has cut further funding for Ariane 5 ME in favour of developing Ariane 6. Last activities for Ariane 5 ME were completed at the end of 2015. Activities on development of the VINCI upper stage were transferred to Ariane 6. |
Launch system status: Retired · Cancelled · Operational · Under development
Launch pricing and market competition
As of November 2014[update], the Ariane 5 commercial launch price for launching a "midsize satellite in the lower position" was approximately US$60 million,[16] competing for commercial launches in an increasingly competitive market.
The heavier satellite is launched in the upper position on a typical dual-satellite Ariane 5 launch is priced higher than the lower satellite,[17][clarification needed] on the order of €90 million as of 2013[update].[18][19]
Total launch price of an Ariane 5 – which can transport up to two satellites to space, one in the "upper" and one in the "lower" positions – is around 150 million Euro as of January 2015.[19]
Future developments
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Belgian_components_for_the_Ariane_5_rocket.jpg/220px-Belgian_components_for_the_Ariane_5_rocket.jpg)
Ariane 5 ME
The Ariane 5 ME (Mid-life Evolution) was in development into early 2015, and was seen as a stopgap between Ariane 5 ECA/Ariane 5 ES and the new Ariane 6. With first flight planned for 2018, it would have become ESA's principal launcher until the arrival of the new Ariane 6 version. ESA halted funding for the development of Ariane 5 ME in late 2014 to prioritize development of Ariane 6.[20]
The Ariane 5 ME was to use a new upper stage, with increased propellant volume, powered by the new Vinci engine. Unlike the HM-7B engine, it was to be able restart several times, allowing for complex orbital maneuvers such as insertion of two satellites into different orbits, direct insertion into geosynchronous orbit, planetary exploration missions, and guaranteed upper stage deorbiting or insertion into graveyard orbit.[21][22] The launcher was also to include a lengthened fairing up to 20 m and a new dual launch system to accommodate larger satellites. Compared to an Ariane 5 ECA model, the payload to GTO was to increase by 15% to 11.5 tonnes and the cost-per-kilogram of each launch is projected to decline by 20%.[21]
Development
Originally known as the Ariane 5 ECB, Ariane 5 ME was to have its first flight in 2006. However, the failure of the first ECA flight in 2002, combined with a deteriorating satellite industry, caused ESA to cancel development in 2003.[23] Development of the Vinci engine continued, though at a lower pace. The ESA Council of Ministers agreed to fund development of the new upper stage in November 2008.[24]
In 2009, EADS Astrium was awarded a €200 million contract,[25] and on 10 April 2012 received another €112 million contract to continue development of the Ariane 5 ME[26] with total development effort expected to cost €1 billion.[27]
On 21 November 2012, ESA agreed to continue with the Ariane 5 ME to meet the challenge of lower priced competitors. It was agreed the Vinci upper stage would also be used as the second stage of a new Ariane 6, and further commonality would be sought.[22] Ariane 5 ME qualification flight was scheduled for mid-2018, followed by gradual introduction into service.[21]
On 2 December 2014, ESA decided to stop funding the development of Ariane 5 ME and instead focus on Ariane 6, which was expected to have a lower cost per launch and allow more flexibility in the payloads (using two or four P120C solid boosters depending on total payload mass).[20]
Solid propellant stage
Work on the Ariane 5 EAP motors has been continued in the Vega programme. The Vega 1st stage engine – the P80 engine – is a shorter derivation of the EAP.[28] The P80 booster casing is made of filament wound graphite epoxy, much lighter than the current stainless steel casing. A new composite steerable nozzle has been developed while new thermal insulation material and a narrower throat improve the expansion ratio and subsequently the overall performance. Additionally, the nozzle now has electromechanical actuators which have replaced the heavier hydraulic ones used for thrust vector control.
These developments will probably later[according to whom?] make their way back into the Ariane programme.[22][29] The incorporation of the ESC-B with the improvements to the solid motor casing and an uprated Vulcain engine would deliver 27,000 kilograms (60,000 lb) to LEO. This would be developed for any lunar missions but the performance of such a design may not be possible if the higher Max-Q for the launch of this rocket poses a constraint on the mass delivered to orbit.[30]
Ariane 6
The design brief of the next generation rocket Ariane 6 called for a lower-cost and smaller rocket capable of launching a single satellite of up to 6.5 tonnes to GTO.[31] However, after several permutations the finalized design was nearly identical in performance to the Ariane 5,[32] focusing instead on lowering fabrication costs and launch prices.
Development is projected to cost €4 billion. In 2018, its first test launch was set to not earlier than July 2020.[33] As of March 2014[update], Ariane 6 was projected to be launched for about €70 million per flight or about half of the Ariane 5 current price.[31]
Notable launches
Ariane 5's first test flight (Ariane 5 Flight 501) on 4 June 1996 failed, with the rocket self-destructing 37 seconds after launch because of a malfunction in the control software.[34] A data conversion from 64-bit floating point value to 16-bit signed integer value to be stored in a variable representing horizontal bias caused a processor trap (operand error)[35] because the floating point value was too large to be represented by a 16-bit signed integer. The software was originally written for the Ariane 4 where efficiency considerations (the computer running the software had an 80% maximum workload requirement[35]) led to four variables being protected with a handler while three others, including the horizontal bias variable, were left unprotected because it was thought that they were "physically limited or that there was a large margin of safety".[35] The software, written in Ada, was included in the Ariane 5 through the reuse of an entire Ariane 4 subsystem despite the fact that the particular software containing the bug, which was just a part of the subsystem, was not required by the Ariane 5 because it has a different preparation sequence[35] than the Ariane 4.
The second test flight (L502, on 30 October 1997) was a partial failure. The Vulcain nozzle caused a roll problem, leading to premature shutdown of the core stage. The upper stage operated successfully, but it could not reach the intended orbit. A subsequent test flight (L503, on 21 October 1998) proved successful and the first commercial launch (L504) occurred on 10 December 1999 with the launch of the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory satellite.
Another partial failure occurred on 12 July 2001, with the delivery of two satellites into an incorrect orbit, at only half the height of the intended GTO. The ESA Artemis telecommunications satellite was able to reach its intended orbit on 31 January 2003, through the use of its experimental ion propulsion system.
The next launch did not occur until 1 March 2002, when the Envisat environmental satellite successfully reached an orbit of 800 km above the Earth in the 11th launch. At 8111 kg, it was the heaviest single payload until the launch of the first ATV on 9 March 2008 (19,360 kg).
The first launch of the ECA variant on 11 December 2002 ended in failure when a main booster problem caused the rocket to veer off-course, forcing its self-destruction three minutes into the flight. Its payload of two communications satellites (Stentor and Hot Bird 7), valued at about €630 million, was lost in the Atlantic Ocean. The fault was determined to have been caused by a leak in coolant pipes allowing the nozzle to overheat. After this failure, Arianespace SA delayed the expected January 2003 launch for the Rosetta mission to 26 February 2004, but this was again delayed to early March 2004 due to a minor fault in the foam that protects the cryogenic tanks on the Ariane 5. As of June 2017, the failure of the first ECA launch was the last failure of an Ariane 5; since then, 82 consecutive launches have been successful, from April 2003 with the launch of INSAT-3A and Galaxy 12 satellites,[36] to flight 240 in December 2017.
On 27 September 2003, the last Ariane 5 G boosted three satellites (including the first European lunar probe, SMART-1), in Flight 162. On 18 July 2004, an Ariane 5 G+ boosted what was at the time the heaviest telecommunication satellite ever, Anik F2, weighing almost 6000 kg.
The first successful launch of the Ariane 5 ECA took place on 12 February 2005. The payload consisted of the XTAR-EUR military communications satellite, a 'SLOSHSAT' small scientific satellite and a MaqSat B2 payload simulator. The launch had been originally scheduled for October 2004, but additional testing and the military requiring a launch at that time (of a Helios 2A observation satellite) delayed the attempt.
On 11 August 2005, the first Ariane 5 GS (featuring the Ariane 5 ECA's improved solid motors) boosted Thaïcom-4/iPStar-1, the heaviest telecommunications satellite to date at 6505 kg,[37] into orbit.
On 16 November 2005, the third Ariane 5 ECA launch (the second successful ECA launch) took place. It carried a dual payload consisting of Spaceway F2 for DirecTV and Telkom-2 for PT Telekomunikasi of Indonesia. This was the rocket's heaviest dual payload to date, at more than 8000 kg.
On 27 May 2006, an Ariane 5 ECA rocket set a new commercial payload lifting record of 8.2 tonnes. The dual-payload consisted of the Thaicom 5 and Satmex 6 satellites.[38]
On 4 May 2007, the Ariane 5 ECA set another new commercial record, lifting into transfer orbit the Astra 1L and Galaxy 17 communication satellites with a combined weight of 8.6 tonnes, and a total payload weight of 9.4 tonnes.[39] This record was again broken by another Ariane 5 ECA, launching the Skynet 5B and Star One C1 satellites, on 11 November 2007. The total payload weight for this launch was of 9535 kg.[40]
On 9 March 2008, the first Ariane 5 ES-ATV was launched to deliver the first ATV called Jules Verne to the International Space Station. The ATV was the heaviest payload ever launched by a European rocket, providing supplies to the space station with necessary propellant, water, air and dry cargo. This was the first operational Ariane mission which involved an engine restart in the upper stage. The ES-ATV Aestus EPS upper stage was restartable while the ECA HM7-B engine was not.
On 1 July 2009, an Ariane 5 ECA launched TerreStar-1 (now EchoStar T1), which was then, at 6,910 kg (15,230 lb), the largest and most massive commercial telecommunication satellite ever built at that time[41] until being overtaken by Telstar 19 Vantage, at 7,080 kg (15,610 lb), launched aboard Falcon 9 (although the satellite was launched into a lower-energy orbit than a usual GTO, with its initial apogee at roughly 17,900 km).[42]
On 28 October 2010, an Ariane 5 ECA launched Eutelsat's W3B (part of its W Series of satellites) and Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT)'s BSAT-3b satellites into orbit. But the W3B satellite failed to operate shortly after the successful launch and was written off as a total loss due to an oxidizer leak in the satellite's main propulsion system.[43] The BSAT-3b satellite, however, is operating normally.[44]
GTO payload weight records
On 22 April 2011, the Ariane 5 ECA flight VA-201 broke a commercial record, lifting Yahsat 1A and Intelsat New Dawn with a total payload weight of 10,064 kg to transfer orbit.[45] This record was later broken again during the launch of Ariane 5 ECA flight VA-208 on 2 August 2012, lifting a total of 10,182 kg into the planned geosynchronous transfer orbit,[46] which was broken again 6 months later on flight VA-212 with 10,317 kg sent towards geosynchronous transfer orbit.[47] In June 2016, the GTO record was raised to 10,730 kg,[48] on the first rocket in history that carried a satellite dedicated to financial institutions.[49] The payload record was pushed a further 5 kg to 10,735 kg (23,667 lb) on 24 August 2016 with the launch of Intelsat 33e and Intelsat 36.[50] On 1 June 2017, the payload record was broken again to 10,865 kg (23,953 lb) carrying ViaSat-2 and Eutelsat 172B.[51]
VA241 anomaly
On 25 January 2018, an Ariane 5 ECA launched SES-14 and Al Yah 3 satellites. About 9 minutes and 28 seconds after launch, a telemetry loss occurred between the rocket and the ground controllers. It was later confirmed, about 1 hour and 20 minutes after launch, that both satellites were successfully separated from the upper stage and were in contact with their respective ground controllers,[52] but that their orbital inclinations were incorrect as the guidance systems might have been compromised. Therefore, both satellites conducted orbital procedures, extending commissioning time.[53] SES-14 needed about 8 weeks longer than planned commissioning time, meaning that entry into service was reported early September instead of July.[54] Nevertheless, SES-14 is still expected to be able to meet the designed lifetime. This satellite was originally to be launched with more propellant reserve on a Falcon 9 rocket since the Falcon 9, in this specific case, was intended to deploy this satellite into a high inclination orbit that would require more work from the satellite to reach its final geostationary orbit.[55] The Al Yah 3 was also confirmed healthy after more than 12 hours without further statement, and like SES-14, Al Yah 3's maneuvering plan was also revised to still fulfill the original mission.[56] As of 16 February 2018, Al Yah 3 was approaching the intended geostationary orbit, after series of recovery maneuvers had been performed.[57] The investigation showed that invalid inertial units' azimuth value had sent the vehicle 17° off course but to the intended altitude, they had been programmed for the standard geostationary transfer orbit of 90° when the payloads were intended to be 70° for this supersynchronous transfer orbit mission, 20° off norme.[58] This mission anomaly marked the end of 82nd consecutive success streak since 2003.[59]
Launch history
Launch statistics
Ariane 5 rockets have accumulated 107 launches since 1996, 102 of which were successful, yielding a 95.3% success rate. Between April 2003 and December 2017, Ariane 5 flew 82 consecutive missions without failure, but the rocket suffered a partial failure in January 2018.
Rocket configurations
- G
- G+
- GS
- ES
- ECA
Launch outcomes
- Failure
- Partial failure
- Success
List of launches
All launches are from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, ELA-3.
# | Flight No. | Date Time (UTC) |
Rocket type Serial No. |
Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customers | Launch outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | V-88[60] | 4 June 1996 12:34 |
G 501 |
Cluster | Failure | |||
2 | V-101 | 30 October 1997 13:43 |
G 502 |
MaqSat-H, TEAMSAT, MaqSat-B, YES | Partial failure[61] | |||
3 | V-112 | 21 October 1998 16:37 |
G 503 |
MaqSat 3, ARD | Success | |||
4 | V-119 | 10 December 1999 14:32 |
G 504 |
XMM-Newton | HEO | Success | ||
5 | V-128 | 21 March 2000 23:28[62] |
G 505 |
INSAT-3B AsiaStar |
GTO | Success | ||
6 | V-130 | 14 September 2000 22:54[62] |
G 506 |
Astra 2B GE-7 |
GTO | Success | ||
7 | V-135 | 16 November 2000 01:07[62] |
G 507 |
PanAmSat-1R Amsat-P3D STRV 1C STRV 1D |
GTO | Success | ||
8 | V-138 | 20 December 2000 00:26[62] |
G 508 |
Astra 2D GE-8 LDREX |
GTO | Success | ||
9 | V-140 | 8 March 2001 22:51[62] |
G 509 |
Eurobird-1 BSAT-2a |
GTO | Success | ||
10 | V-142 | 12 July 2001 21:58[62] |
G 510 |
Artemis BSAT-2b |
GTO (planned) MEO (achieved) |
Partial failure | ||
Upper stage underperformed, payloads were placed in a useless orbit. Artemis was raised to its target orbit at the expense of operational fuel; BSat was not recoverable. | ||||||||
11 | V-145 | 1 March 2002 01:07[62] |
G 511 |
Envisat | SSO | Success | ||
12 | V-153 | 5 July 2002 23:22[62] |
G 512 |
Stellat 5 N-STAR c |
GTO | Success | ||
13 | V-155 | 28 August 2002 22:45[62] |
G 513 |
Atlantic Bird 1 MSG-1 MFD |
GTO | Success | ||
14 | V-157 | 11 December 2002 22:22[62] |
ECA 517 |
Hot Bird 7 Stentor MFD-A MFD-B |
GTO (planned) | Failure | ||
Maiden flight of Ariane 5ECA, first stage engine failure, rocket destroyed by range safety. | ||||||||
15 | V-160 | 9 April 2003 22:52[62] |
G 514 |
INSAT-3A Galaxy 12 |
GTO | Success | ||
16 | V-161 | 11 June 2003 22:38[62] |
G 515 |
Optus C1 BSAT-2c |
GTO | Success | ||
17 | V-162 | 27 September 2003 23:14[62] |
G 516 |
Insat 3E eBird-1 SMART-1 |
GTO | Success | ||
Final flight of Ariane 5G | ||||||||
18 | V-158 | 2 March 2004 07:17[62] |
G+ 518 |
Rosetta | Heliocentric | Success | ||
Maiden flight of Ariane 5G+ | ||||||||
19 | V-163 | 18 July 2004 00:44[62] |
G+ 519 |
Anik F2 | GTO | Success | ||
20 | V-165 | 18 December 2004 16:26[62] |
G+ 520 |
Helios 2A Essaim-1 Essaim-2 Essaim-3 Essaim-4 PARASOL Nanosat 01 |
SSO | Success | ||
Final flight of Ariane 5G+ | ||||||||
21 | V-164 | 12 February 2005 21:03[62] |
ECA 521 |
XTAR-EUR Maqsat-B2 Sloshsat-FLEVO |
GTO | Success | ||
22 | V-166 | 11 August 2005 08:20[62] |
GS 523 |
iPStar-1 | GTO | Success | ||
Maiden flight of Ariane 5GS | ||||||||
23 | V-168 | 13 October 2005 22:32[62] |
GS 524 |
Syracuse 3A Galaxy 15 |
GTO | Success | ||
24 | V-167 | 16 November 2005 23:46[62] |
ECA 522 |
Spaceway-2 Telkom-2 |
GTO | Success | ||
25 | V-169 | 21 December 2005 23:33[62] |
GS 525 |
INSAT-4A MSG-2 |
GTO | Success | ||
26 | V-170 | 11 March 2006 22:33[62] |
ECA 527 |
Spainsat Hot Bird 7A |
GTO | Success | ||
27 | V-171 | 27 May 2006 21:09[62] |
ECA 529 |
Satmex-6 Thaicom 5 |
GTO | Success | ||
28 | V-172 | 11 August 2006 22:15[62] |
ECA 531 |
JCSAT-10 Syracuse 3B |
GTO | Success | ||
29 | V-173 | 13 October 2006 20:56[62] |
ECA 533 |
DirecTV-9S Optus D1 LDREX-2 |
GTO | Success | ||
30 | V-174 | 8 December 2006 22:08[62] |
ECA 534 |
WildBlue-1 AMC-18 |
GTO | Success | ||
31 | V-175 | 11 March 2007 22:03[62] |
ECA 535 |
Skynet 5A INSAT-4B |
GTO | Success | ||
32 | V-176 | 4 May 2007 22:29[62] |
ECA 536 |
Astra 1L Galaxy 17 |
GTO | Success | ||
33 | V-177 | 14 August 2007 23:44[62] |
ECA 537 |
Spaceway-3 BSAT-3a |
GTO | Success | ||
34 | V-178 | 5 October 2007 22:02[62] |
GS 526 |
Intelsat 11 Optus D2 |
GTO | Success | ||
35 | V-179 | 14 November 2007 22:03[62] |
ECA 538 |
Skynet 5B Star One C1 |
GTO | Success | ||
36 | V-180 | 21 December 2007 21:41[62] |
GS 530 |
Rascom-QAF1 Horizons-2 |
GTO | Success | ||
37 | V-181 | 9 March 2008 04:03[62] |
ES 528 |
Jules Verne ATV | LEO (ISS) | Success | ||
Maiden flight of Ariane 5ES | ||||||||
38 | V-182 | 18 April 2008 22:17[62] |
ECA 539 |
Star One C2 Vinasat-1 |
GTO | Success | ||
39 | V-183 | 12 June 2008 22:05 |
ECA 540 |
Skynet 5C Türksat 3A |
GTO | Success | ||
40 | V-184 | 7 July 2008 21:47 |
ECA 541 |
ProtoStar-1 Badr-6 |
GTO | Success | ||
41 | V-185 | 14 August 2008 20:44 |
ECA 542 |
Superbird-7 AMC-21 |
GTO | Success | ||
42 | V-186 | 20 December 2008 22:35 |
ECA 543 |
Hot Bird 9 Eutelsat W2M |
GTO | Success | ||
43 | V-187 | 12 February 2009 22:09 |
ECA 545 |
Hot Bird 10 NSS-9 Spirale-A Spirale-B |
GTO | Success | ||
44 | V-188 | 14 May 2009 13:12 |
ECA 546 |
Herschel Space Observatory Planck |
[[Lagrangian point|Sun-Earth L2 point]] | Success | ||
45 | V-189 | 1 July 2009 19:52 |
ECA 547 |
TerreStar-1 | GTO | Success | ||
46 | V-190 | 21 August 2009 22:09 |
ECA 548 |
JCSAT-12 Optus D3 |
GTO | Success | ||
47 | V-191 | 1 October 2009 21:59 |
ECA 549 |
Amazonas 2 COMSATBw-1 |
GTO | Success | ||
48 | V-192 | 29 October 2009 20:00 |
ECA 550 |
NSS-12 Thor-6 |
GTO | Success | ||
49 | V-193 | 18 December 2009 16:26 |
GS 532 |
Helios 2B | SSO | Success | ||
Final flight of Ariane 5GS | ||||||||
50 | V-194 | 21 May 2010 22:01 |
ECA 551 |
Astra 3B COMSATBw-2 |
9,116 kg | GTO | SES MilSat Services |
Success |
51 | V-195 | 26 June 2010 21:41 |
ECA 552 |
Arabsat-5A Chollian |
8,393 kg | GTO | Arabsat KARI |
Success |
52 | V-196 | 4 August 2010 20:59 |
ECA 554 |
Nilesat 201 RASCOM-QAF 1R |
7,085 kg | GTO | Nilesat RASCOM |
Success |
53 | V-197 | 28 October 2010 21:51 |
ECA 555 |
Eutelsat W3B BSAT-3b |
8,263 kg | GTO | Eutelsat Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation |
Success |
Eutelsat W3B suffered a leak in the propulsion system shortly after launch and was declared a total loss.[63] BSAT-3b is operating normally. | ||||||||
54 | V-198 | 26 November 2010 18:39 |
ECA 556 |
Intelsat 17 HYLAS-1 |
8,867 kg | GTO | Intelsat Avanti Communications |
Success |
55 | V-199 | 29 December 2010 21:27 |
ECA 557 |
Koreasat 6 Hispasat-1E |
9,259 kg | GTO | KT Corporation Hispasat |
Success |
56 | V-200 | 16 February 2011 21:50 |
ES 544 |
Johannes Kepler ATV | 20,050 kg | LEO (ISS) | ESA | Success |
57 | VA-201 | 22 April 2011 21:37 |
ECA 558 |
Yahsat 1A New Dawn |
10,064 kg | GTO | Al Yah Satellite Communications Intelsat |
Success |
Launch was scrubbed from 30 March 2011, aborted in the last seconds before liftoff due to a gimbal malfunction in the Vulcain main engine.[64] | ||||||||
58 | VA-202 | 20 May 2011 20:38 |
ECA 559 |
ST-2 GSAT-8 |
9,013 kg | GTO | Singapore Telecom ISRO |
Success |
59 | VA-203 | 6 August 2011 22:52 |
ECA 560 |
Astra 1N BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110R |
9,095 kg | GTO | SES S.A. Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation |
Success |
60 | VA-204 | 21 September 2011 21:38 |
ECA 561 |
Arabsat-5C SES-2 |
8,974 kg | GTO | Arab Satellite Communications Organization SES S.A. |
Success |
61 | VA-205 | 23 March 2012 04:34 |
ES 553 |
Edoardo Amaldi ATV | 20,060 kg | LEO (ISS) | ESA | Success |
62 | VA-206 | 15 May 2012 22:13 |
ECA 562 |
JCSAT-13 Vinasat-2 |
8,381 kg | GTO | SKY Perfect JSAT VNPT |
Success |
63 | VA-207 | 5 July 2012 21:36 |
ECA 563 |
EchoStar XVII MSG-3 |
9,647 kg | GTO | EchoStar EUMETSAT |
Success |
64 | VA-208 | 2 August 2012 20:54 |
ECA 564 |
Intelsat 20 HYLAS 2 |
10,182 kg | GTO | Intelsat Avanti Communications |
Success |
65 | VA-209 | 28 September 2012 21:18 |
ECA 565 |
Astra 2F GSAT-10 |
10,211 kg | GTO | SES ISRO |
Success |
66 | VA-210 | 10 November 2012 21:05 |
ECA 566 |
Eutelsat 21B Star One C3 |
9,216 kg | GTO | Eutelsat Star One |
Success |
67 | VA-211 | 19 December 2012 21:49 |
ECA 567 |
Skynet 5D Mexsat-3 |
8,637 kg | GTO | Astrium Mexican Satellite System |
Success |
68 | VA-212 | 7 February 2013 21:36 |
ECA 568 |
Amazonas 3 Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a |
10,350 kg | GTO | Hispasat Azercosmos[65] |
Success |
69 | VA-213 | 5 June 2013 21:52 |
ES 592 |
Albert Einstein ATV | 20,252 kg | LEO (ISS) | ESA | Success |
70 | VA-214 | 25 July 2013 19:54 |
ECA 569 |
Alphasat I-XL INSAT-3D |
9,760 kg | GTO | Inmarsat ISRO |
Success |
71 | VA-215 | 29 August 2013 20:30 |
ECA 570 |
Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail 1 GSAT-7 |
9,790 kg | GTO | Eutelsat ISRO |
Success |
72 | VA-217 | 6 February 2014 21:30 |
ECA 572 |
ABS-2 Athena-Fidus |
10,214 kg | GTO | ABS (satellite operator) DIRISI |
Success |
73 | VA-216 | 22 March 2014 22:04 |
ECA 571 |
Astra 5B Amazonas 4A |
9,579 kg | GTO | SES Hispasat |
Success |
74 | VA-219 | 29 July 2014 23:47 |
ESbr/>593 | Georges Lemaître ATV | 20,293 kg | LEO (ISS) | ESA | Success |
75 | VA-218 | 11 September 2014 22:05 |
ECA 573 |
MEASAT-3b Optus 10 |
10,088 kg | GTO | MEASAT Satellite Systems Optus |
Success |
76 | VA-220 | 16 October 2014 21:43 |
ECA 574 |
Intelsat 30 ARSAT-1 |
10,060 kg | GTO | Intelsat ARSAT |
Success |
77 | VA-221 | 6 December 2014 20:40 |
ECA 575 |
DirecTV-14 GSAT-16 |
10,210 kg | GTO | DirecTV ISRO |
Success |
78 | VA-222 | 26 April 2015 20:00 |
ECA 576 |
Thor 7 SICRAL-2 |
9,852 kg | GTO | British Satellite Broadcasting French Armed Forces |
Success |
79 | VA-223 | 27 May 2015 21:16 |
ECA 577 |
DirecTV-15 SKY Mexico 1 |
9,960 kg | GTO | DirecTV Sky México |
Success |
80 | VA-224 | 15 July 2015 21:42 |
ECA 578 |
Star One C4 MSG-4 |
8,587 kg | GTO | Star One EUMETSAT |
Success |
81 | VA-225 | 20 August 2015 20:34 |
ECA 579 |
Eutelsat 8 West B Intelsat 34 |
9,922 kg | GTO | Eutelsat Intelsat |
Success |
82 | VA-226 | 30 September 2015 20:30 |
ECA 580 |
NBN Co 1A ARSAT-2 |
10,203 kg | GTO | National Broadband Network ARSAT |
Success |
83 | VA-227 | 10 November 2015 21:34 |
ECA 581 |
Arabsat 6B GSAT-15 |
9,810 kg | GTO | Arabsat ISRO |
Success |
84 | VA-228 | 27 January 2016 23:20 |
ECA 583 |
Intelsat 29e | 6,700 kg | GTO | Intelsat | Success |
85 | VA-229 | 9 March 2016 05:20 |
ECA 582 |
Eutelsat 65 West A | 6,707 kg | GTO | Eutelsat | Success |
86 | VA-230 | 18 June 2016 21:38 |
ECA 584 |
EchoStar 18 BRISat |
10,730 kg | GTO | EchoStar Bank Rakyat Indonesia |
Success |
This mission carried the first satellite owned by a financial institution.[66] | ||||||||
87 | VA-232 | 24 August 2016 22:16 |
ECA 586 |
Intelsat 33e Intelsat 36 |
10,735 kg | GTO | Intelsat | Success |
Intelsat 33e's LEROS apogee engine, which supposed to perform orbit raising, failed soon after its successful launch, forcing to use the experimentation of low-thrust reaction control system which extended the commissioning time 3 months longer than expected.[67] Later, it suffered other thruster problems which cut its operational life time for about 3.5 years.[68] | ||||||||
88 | VA-231 | 5 October 2016 20:30 |
ECA 585 |
NBN Co 1B GSAT-18 |
10,663 kg | GTO | National Broadband Network INSAT |
Success |
89 | VA-233 | 17 November 2016 13:06 |
ES 594 |
Galileo FOC-M6 (satellites FM-7, 12, 13, 14) |
3,290 kg | MEO | ESA | Success |
90 | VA-234 | 21 December 2016 20:30 |
ECA 587 |
Star One D1 JCSAT-15 |
10,722 kg | GTO | Star One SKY Perfect JSAT |
Success |
91 | VA-235 | 14 February 2017 21:39 |
ECA 588 |
Intelsat 32e / SkyBrasil-1 Telkom-3S |
10,485 kg | GTO | Intelsat, DirecTV Latin America Telkom Indonesia |
Success |
This mission carried the first Intelsat EpicNG satellite based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, while other Intelsat EpicNG satellites were based on BSS-702MP platform.[69] | ||||||||
92 | VA-236 | 4 May 2017 21:50 |
ECA 589 |
Koreasat 7 SGDC-1 |
10,289 kg | GTO | KT Corporation SGDC |
Success |
The launch was delayed from March 2017 due to transportation to the launch site being restricted by a blockade erected by striking workers.[70] | ||||||||
93 | VA-237 | 1 June 2017 23:45 |
ECA 590 |
ViaSat-2 Eutelsat 172B |
10,865 kg | GTO | ViaSat Eutelsat |
Success |
Heaviest and most expensive commercial payload ever put into orbit,[71] valued at approximately US$800 million (~US$1 billion including the rocket),[72] until 12 June 2019, when Falcon 9 delivered RADARSAT Constellation with three Canadian satellites, valued almost US$1 billion (not including the rocket), into orbit.[73] ViaSat-2 suffered antenna glitch, which cut about 15% of its intended throughput.[74] | ||||||||
94 | VA-238 | 28 June 2017 21:15 |
ECA 591 |
EuropaSat / Hellas Sat 3 GSAT-17 |
10,177 kg | GTO | Inmarsat / Hellas Sat ISRO |
Success |
95 | VA-239 | 29 September 2017 21:56 |
ECA 5100 |
Intelsat 37e BSAT-4a |
10,838 kg | GTO | Intelsat BSAT |
Success |
Launch was scrubbed from 5 September 2017 due to electrical fault in one of the solid rocket boosters that caused launch abort in the last seconds before liftoff.[75] | ||||||||
96 | VA-240 | 12 December 2017 18:36 |
ES 595 |
Galileo FOC-M7 (satellites FM-19, 20, 21, 22) |
3,282 kg | MEO | ESA | Success |
97 | VA-241 | 25 January 2018 22:20 |
ECA 5101 |
SES-14 with GOLD Al Yah 3 |
9,123 kg | Supergeosynchronous transfer orbit|GTO | SES, NASA AlYahsat |
Partial failure |
Telemetry from the launch vehicle was lost after 9 minutes 30 seconds into the flight, after rocket trajectory went off course due to invalid inertial units' azimuth value.[58] Satellites later found to have separated from the upper stage and entered an incorrect orbit with large inclination deviations.[76][77] However, they were able to reach the planned orbit with small loss of on board propellant for SES-14 and still expected to meet the designed life time,[78] but with significant loss on Al Yah 3 (up to 50% of its intended operational life).[79][80] | ||||||||
98 | VA-242 | 5 April 2018 21:34 |
ECA 5102 |
Superbird-8 / Superbird-B3 HYLAS-4 |
10,260 kg | GTO | Japanese MoD, SKY Perfect JSAT Avanti Communications |
Success |
Return-to-flight mission after VA-241 mishap on 25 January.[81] | ||||||||
99 | VA-244 | 25 July 2018 11:25 |
ES 596 |
Galileo FOC-M8 (satellites FM-23, 24, 25, 26) |
3,379 kg | MEO | ESA | Success |
Final flight of Ariane 5ES. | ||||||||
100 | VA-243 | 25 September 2018 22:38 |
ECA 5103 |
Horizons-3e Azerspace-2 / Intelsat 38 |
10,827 kg | GTO | Intelsat, SKY Perfect JSAT Azercosmos |
Success |
Hundredth Ariane 5 mission.[82] Flight VA-243 was delayed from 25 May 2018 due to issues with GSAT-11, which was eventually replaced by Horizons-3e.[83] | ||||||||
101 | VA-245 | 20 October 2018 01:45 |
ECA 5105 |
BepiColombo | 4,081 kg | Heliocentric | ESA JAXA |
Success |
102 | VA-246 | 4 December 2018 20:37 |
ECA 5104 |
GTO | Success | |||
103 | VA-247 | 5 February 2019 21:01 |
ECA 5106 |
GTO | Success | |||
104 | VA-248 | 20 June 2019 21:43 |
ECA 5107 |
GTO | Success | |||
105 | VA-249 | 6 August 2019 19:30 |
ECA 5108 |
GTO | Success | |||
106 | VA-250 | 26 November 2019 21:23[92] |
ECA 5109 |
Inmarsat-5 F5 (GX 5)[93][94] TIBA-1[95] |
GTO | Inmarsat Government of Egypt |
Success[96] | |
107 | VA-251 | 16 January 2020 21:05 |
ECA 5110 |
Eutelsat Konnect (African Broadband Satellite)[97] GSAT-30 |
GTO | Eutelsat ISRO |
Success | |
108 | VA-252 | 18 February 2020 22:18 |
ECA |
JCSAT-17 GEO-KOMPSAT 2B |
9,236 kg | GTO | SKY Perfect JSAT KARI |
Success |
Future payloads and scheduled flights
Date Time (UTC) |
Rocket type Serial No. |
Payload | Orbit | Customers | Launch status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 August 2020 21:33 VA-253[98] |
ECA | GTO | Planned | ||
Q4 2020[88][100][101] | ECA | GTO | Planned | ||
H2, 2020 | ECA | Intelsat (TBD)[99][a] | GTO | Intelsat | Planned |
31 October 2021[102] | ECA | James Webb Space Telescope[103][104] | Sun–Earth L2 | NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI | Scheduled |
2021 | ECA | Ovzon-3[105][a] | GTO | Ovzon | Planned |
2021 | ECA | MEASAT-3d[106][a] | GTO | MEASAT | Planned |
2021[107] | ECA | MTG-I1[107][a] | GTO | EUMETSAT | Planned |
2023[4] | ECA | MTG-S1[4][a] | GTO | EUMETSAT | Planned |
2021[108] | ECA | SES-17[108][a] | GTO | SES S.A. | Planned |
2021–2022[109] | ECA | Syracuse 4A (Comsat-NG 1)[a] | GTO | DGA | Planned |
2021–2022[109] | ECA | Heinrich Hertz (H2Sat)[109][a] | GTO | DLR | Planned |
2021–2022[109] | ECA | Syracuse 4B (Comsat-NG 2)[a] | GTO | DGA | Planned |
June 2022[110] | ECA | Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)[111][110] | Heliocentric | ESA | Planned |
See also
- List of Ariane launches
- Comparison of orbital launchers families
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (ESA, beyond Ariane 5)
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Ariane 5 Overview at Arianespace
- Ariane 5 Programme Information at Astrium