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Contractors | Basics | Variants
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The launch of Ariane 5 on October 21, 1998
marked the qualification of this new-generation heavy launcher,
paving the way for its successful commercial career. It was also
a major milestone for the European space industry. The new
launcher was developed to keep pace with trends in the
commercial launch market, especially larger and heavier
satellites. The baseline version of the launcher is capable of boosting 6.9 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) for a single satellite launch, or 5.9 tonnes on a dual launch (two satellites at once). It can also carry 18 tonnes into low Earth orbit (LEO). Right from the outset of the programme, engineers designed in the flexibility needed to integrate evolving launch requirements, especially bigger satellites and a wider variety of missions (most notably for the International Space Station). Because of this foresight, the baseline launcher is gradually adding planned improvements to improve its performance and consolidate its solid position in the global commercial launch market.. The Ariane 5 programme was originally approved during a Rome meeting of European space ministers in January 1985, followed by the development green light at a ministerial-level Council meeting in The Hague in November 1987. As for the previous Ariane programmes, the European Space Agency (ESA) is in charge of the programme, and designated French space agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) as prime contractor. CNES relies on EADS LAUNCH VEHICLES as industrial architect, systems manager and stages prime contractor.. |
