Ariane 2 and Ariane 3 were expendable launch systems in the Ariane family designed by the European Space Agency. They were almost identical, but Ariane 3 was equipped with strap-on boosters. They were the successors to Ariane 1 and predecessors of the Ariane 4. An expendable launch system is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. ... The Ariane Family The name Ariane refers to a series of a civilian European expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. ... The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975,is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to exploration of space with currently 17 member states. ... Ariane I is the first version of the Ariane launcher family. ... Ariane 42P rocket with the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite (Kourou, August 10, 1992) (NASA) Ariane 4 was an expendable launch system, designed by the European Space Agency and manufactured and marketed by the French company Arianespace. ...

Technical details

Ariane 2 and 3 had the same basic design as Ariane 1, but with increased thrust of first and second stage engines, a taller third stage, and a larger internal payload fairing volume. In addition Ariane 3 had two solid rocket motor strap-ons. Their payload capacity was 2175 to 2580 kg. Ariane I is the first version of the Ariane launcher family. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ...

They were three-stage rockets:

• The first stage was equipped with four N2O4/UH 25 (mixture 75% UDMH and 25% Hydrazine) bipropellant engines.

• The second and third stages each had a single bipropellant engine. The second stage uses N2O4/UH 25 and the third stage LOX/Hydrogen

Nitrogen tetroxide (or Dinitrogen tetroxide) (N2O4) is a hypergolic propellant often used in combination with a hydrazine-based rocket fuel. ... Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) (1,1-Dimethylhydrazine) is a hypergolic rocket fuel ingredient, often used in combination with the oxidiser, nitrogen tetroxide. ... Hydrazine is a chemical compound with formula N2H4 used as a rocket fuel. ... F-1 rocket engine (The kind used by the Saturn V.) A bipropellant rocket is a rocket that uses separate liquid fuel and oxidizer propellants. ... F-1 rocket engine (The kind used by the Saturn V.) A bipropellant rocket is a rocket that uses separate liquid fuel and oxidizer propellants. ... Nitrogen tetroxide (or Dinitrogen tetroxide) (N2O4) is a hypergolic propellant often used in combination with a hydrazine-based rocket fuel. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ...

Launch history

The first launch of Ariane 2 was on 30 May 1986 and was a failure. The remaining launches were all successful. There were only six flights of Ariane 2, the last being on 2 April 1989. May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2 April is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The first launch of Ariane 3 was on 4 August 1984, almost two years before Ariane 2. In total there were 11 flights; only the fifth failed. August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The small number of flights of Ariane 2 & 3 was due to the arrival of the much more versatile and powerful Ariane 4. Ariane 42P rocket with the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite (Kourou, August 10, 1992) (NASA) Ariane 4 was an expendable launch system, designed by the European Space Agency and manufactured and marketed by the French company Arianespace. ...