This article contains information regarding a rocket that is scheduled to launch in the next 13 days. Details may change as the countdown and ascent progress. Launch details: Arianespace will use a Ariane 5ECA to launch Skynet-5C and Turksat-3A for the British Ministry of Defence and Turksat. Launch will occur from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre, Kourou.. Image File history File links Gnome_globe_current_event. ... Founded in 1980, Arianespace SA undertakes the production, operation and marketing of the Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rocket launchers as part of the Ariane programme. ... Launch of the first Skynet satellite, Skynet 1A, by Delta rocket in 1969 from Cape Canaveral Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the UK Armed... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... Turksat Satellite Communication and Cable TV Operation AS is the only satellite operator company in Turkey. ... The now-decommissioned Ariane 4 launch site The Guiana Space Centre (French: Centre Spatial Guyanais or CSG) is a French spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. ... Kourou is a town and commune in French Guiana. ... Launch is scheduled for 23 May 2008 at 21:50 UTC. See 2008 in spaceflight and the Spaceflight Portal for further details. edit this messagebox

Ariane 5
Ariane 5 mock-up
Fact sheet
Function	Heavy launch vehicle
Manufacturer	EADS Astrium for ESA and Arianespace
Country of origin	Europe
Size
Height	59 m (193 ft)
Diameter	5.4 m (17.7 ft)
Mass	777,000 kg (1,712,000 lb)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO	G:16,000 kg ECA:21,000 kg
Payload to GTO	G:6,800 kg ECA:10,500 kg
Launch History
Status	Active
Launch sites	ELA-3, Guiana Space Centre
Total launches	38 (G: 24, ECA: 13, ES: 1)
Successes	34 (G: 21, ECA: 12, ES: 1)
Failures	2 (G: 1, ECA: 1)
Partial failures	2 (G)
Maiden flight	G: 4 June 1996 ECA: 11 December 2002 ES: 9 March 2008
Boosters (Stage 0) - P230
No boosters	2
Engines	1 Solid
Thrust	6,470 kN (1,454,510 lbf)
Specific impulse	275 sec
Burn time	129 seconds
Fuel	Solid
First Stage (Ariane 5G)
Engines	1 Vulcain
Thrust	1,114 kN (250,437 lbf)
Specific impulse	430 sec
Burn time	589 seconds
Fuel	LH2/LOX
First Stage (Ariane 5 ECA)
Engines	1 Vulcain 2
Thrust	1,340 kN (301,243 lbf)
Specific impulse	431 sec
Burn time	650 seconds
Fuel	LH2/LOX
Second Stage (Ariane 5G)
Engines	1 Aestus
Thrust	27.4 kN (6,160 lbf)
Specific impulse	324 sec
Burn time	1,100 seconds
Fuel	N2O4/MMH
Second Stage (Ariane 5 ECA)
Engines	1 HM7-B
Thrust	64.7 kN (14,545 lbf)
Specific impulse	446 sec
Burn time	960 seconds
Fuel	LH2/LOX

Ariane 5 is a European expendable launch system designed to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit. is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // This is a list of spaceflights launched, or scheduled to be launched in 2008, including the next scheduled launch. ... UTC redirects here. ... // This is a list of spaceflights launched, or scheduled to be launched in 2008, including the next scheduled launch. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1768x2265, 643 KB) Delta 2914 launching IUE spacecraft on Jan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1194x1910, 627 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ariane 5 Cité de lespace Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... A Saturn V launch vehicle sends Apollo 15 on its way to the moon. ... EADS Astrium, one of the three business units of EADS Space, this company being a subsidiary of EADS, is an European space manufacturer involved in the manufacture of spacecraft used for science, Earth observation and telecommunication, as well as the equipment and subsystems used therein and related ground systems. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ... Founded in 1980, Arianespace SA undertakes the production, operation and marketing of the Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rocket launchers as part of the Ariane programme. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Kg redirects here. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In military aircraft or space exploration, the payload is the carrying capacity of an aircraft or space ship, including as cargo, munitions, scientific instruments or experiments, or external fuel, although internal fuel is usually not included. ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... The now-decommissioned Ariane 4 launch site The Guiana Space Centre (French: Centre Spatial Guyanais or CSG) is a French spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... The Space Shuttle is initially launched with the help of solid-fuel boosters A Solid rocket or a solid fuel rocket is a rocket with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). ... This article is about the SI unit of force. ... The pound-force is a non-SI unit of force or weight (properly abbreviated lbf or lbf). The pound-force is equal to a mass of one pound multiplied by the standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth (which is defined as exactly 9. ... Specific impulse (usually abbreviated Isp) is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. ... The Space Shuttle is initially launched with the help of solid-fuel boosters A Solid rocket or a solid fuel rocket is a rocket with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). ... The Vulcain engine in a museum. ... Specific impulse (usually abbreviated Isp) is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. ... LH2 is an acronym used in the aerospace industry, which stands for liquid hydrogen. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Specific impulse (usually abbreviated Isp) is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. ... LH2 is an acronym used in the aerospace industry, which stands for liquid hydrogen. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Specific impulse (usually abbreviated Isp) is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. ... Nitrogen tetroxide (or Dinitrogen tetroxide) (N2O4) is a hypergolic propellant often used in combination with a hydrazine-based rocket fuel. ... Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) is a volatile hydrazine with the chemical formula CH3N2H2. ... Specific impulse (usually abbreviated Isp) is a way to describe the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. ... LH2 is an acronym used in the aerospace industry, which stands for liquid hydrogen. ... Lox can stand for any of several things: Lox (salmon) - a type of salmon produce LOx (oxidizer) - liquid oxygen used as oxidizer in aerospace The Lox - was a Yonkers, NY-based rap trio This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... An expendable launch system or expendable launch vehicle, ELV, is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ...

It is manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), with EADS Astrium Space Transportation (Astrium) as prime contractor, leading a consortium of sub-contractors. The rocket is operated and marketed by Arianespace as part of the Ariane programme. Astrium builds the rockets in Europe and Arianespace launches them from the Guiana Space Centre. ESA redirects here. ... The Centre National dÉtudes Spatiales is the French government space agency (administratively, a public establishment of industrial and commercial character). Its headquarters are located in central Paris. ... EADS Astrium Space Transportation was formed in June 2003 from the Space Infrastructure division of Astrium (whose core was originally ERNO) and the EADS Launch Vehicles division (formerly Aerospatiales Space division). ... Founded in 1980, Arianespace SA undertakes the production, operation and marketing of the Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rocket launchers as part of the Ariane programme. ... The Ariane 4 Ariane is a series of a European civilian expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The now-decommissioned Ariane 4 launch site The Guiana Space Centre (French: Centre Spatial Guyanais or CSG) is a French spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. ...

It succeeded Ariane 4, but does not derive from it directly. Its development took 10 years and cost €7 billion. Ariane 5 has been refined since the first launch in successive versions, G, G+, GS, ECA, and most recently, ES. ESA originally designed Ariane 5 to launch the manned mini shuttle Hermes, and thus intended it to be "human rated" from the beginning. After ESA cancelled Hermes, the rocket became a purely robotic launcher. 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 its subsidiary Arianespace. ... Artists impression of the Hermes Shuttle A cutaway view of the Hermes Shuttle Hermes was a proposed mini-shuttle designed by the European Space Agency which was superficially similar to the US X-20. ...

Two satellites can be mounted using a SYLDA carrier (SYstème de Lancement Double Ariane). Three main satellites are possible depending on size using SPELTRA (Structure Porteuse Externe Lancement TRiple Ariane). Up to eight secondary payloads, usually small experiment packages or minisatellites, can be carried with an ASAP (Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads) platform.

By mid 2007, Arianespace has ordered a total of 99 Ariane 5 launchers from Astrium. The first batch ordered in 1995 consisted of 14 launchers, while the second - P2 - batch ordered in 1999 consisted of 20 launchers . A third - PA - batch consisting of 25 ECA and 5 ES launchers was ordered in 2004. The latest batch ordered in mid 2007 consist of another 35 ECA launchers.^[1] Through these orders, the Ariane 5 will be the workhorse of Arianespace at least through 2015.

Components

Vulcain engine

Ariane 5’s cryogenic H158 main stage (H173 for Ariane 5 ECA) is called the EPC (Étage Principal Cryotechnique - Cryotechnic Main Stage). It consists of a large tank 30.5 metres high with two compartments, one for 130 tonnes of liquid oxygen and one for 25 tonnes of liquid hydrogen, and a Vulcain engine at the base with thrust of 115 tonnes-force (1.13 meganewtons). This part of the first stage weighs about 15 tonnes when empty. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1688x2872, 471 KB) Description : Moteur Vulcain de fusée Ariane V Place : Musée des Sciences et des Techniques de la Villette, Paris, France Date : Juillet 2006 Auteur : Pline Photo personnelle File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1688x2872, 471 KB) Description : Moteur Vulcain de fusée Ariane V Place : Musée des Sciences et des Techniques de la Villette, Paris, France Date : Juillet 2006 Auteur : Pline Photo personnelle File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link... In physics or engineering, cryogenics is the study of the production of very low temperatures (below –150 °C, –238 °F or 123 K) and the behavior of materials at those temperatures. ... This article is about the metric tonne. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the metric tonne. ... Liquid hydrogen is the liquid state of the element hydrogen. ... The Vulcain engine in a museum. ... The deprecated unit kilogram-force (kgf) or kilopond (kp) is the force exerted by one kilogram of mass in standard Earth gravity (defined as exactly 9. ... In physics, the newton (symbol: N) is the SI unit of force, named after Sir Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on classical mechanics. ...

Attached to the sides are two solid propellant boosters, P238 (P241 for Ariane 5 ECA), each weighing about 277 tonnes full. Each delivers a thrust of about 630 tonnes-force (6.2 MN). These boosters can be recovered with parachutes, like the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters. They may have been retrieved for examination on early missions, but are not reused. The Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) is the rocket that provides 83% of liftoff thrust for the Space Shuttle. ...

The second stage is on top of the main stage and below the payload. The Ariane 5G used the EPS (Étage à Propergols Stockables - Storable Propellant Stage), which is fueled by monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide, whereas the Ariane 5 ECA uses the ESC (Étage Supérieur Cryotechnique - Cryogenic Upper Stage), which is fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The payload and all upper stages are covered at launch by the fairing, which splits off once sufficient altitude has been reached. Ariane 5G+ used and Ariane 5 GS and ES use an improved EPS upper stage. The EPS upper stage is capable of re-ignition, which has been demonstrated twice. The first demonstration occurred 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. Following spacecraft separation, a third burn took place to de-orbit the upper stage. Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) is a volatile hydrazine with the chemical formula CH3N2H3. ... Nitrogen tetroxide (or Dinitrogen tetroxide) (N2O4) is a hypergolic propellant often used in combination with a hydrazine-based rocket fuel. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... ATV vs Apollo vs Progress The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ...

Variants

• The original version is dubbed Ariane 5G (Generic) with a launch mass of 737 tonnes. Its payload capability to Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) was initially specified as 5,970 kg, but was increased after the qualification flights to 6,200 kg.

• The Ariane 5G+ had an improved second stage, with a GTO capacity of 6,950 kg for a single payload. It flew three times in 2004.

• It was replaced in 2005 by the Ariane 5GS, with the same solid boosters as the Ariane 5 ECA and a modified first Stage with a Vulcain 1B engine. It can carry a single payload of 6,100 kg to GTO.

• The Ariane 5 ECA (Evolution Cryotechnique type A) has a GTO launch capacity of 10,000 kg for dual payloads or 10,500 kg for a single payload. This variant uses a new Vulcain 2 first-stage engine, and an ESC-A (Etage Supérieur Cryogénique-A) second stage, powered by an HM-7B engine, weighing 2,100 kg and carrying 14,000 kg of cryogenic propellant. The second stage was previously used as the third stage of Ariane 4; in ECA use, the tanks are modified to shorten stage length. The revised Vulcain has a longer, more efficient nozzle with more efficient flow cycle and denser propellant ratio. The new ratio demanded length modifications to the first-stage tanks. Also, the solid booster casings have been lightened with new welds, and packed with more propellant. The ESC-A cryogenic second stage does not improve the performance to Low Earth orbit compared to Ariane 5G, and for this reason the Ariane 5 ECA will not be used to launch the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

• The Ariane 5 ES-ATV (Evolution Storable-) is used to launch the Automated Transfer Vehicle. It includes all the performance improvements of Ariane 5 ECA on EPC^[2] (Etage Principal Cryogénique - main stage) and EAP (Etage Accélérateur à Poudre - solid rocket booster) stages while the second stage is the EPS (Etage à Propergols Stockable) used on Ariane 5GS variants. It is estimated that the Ariane 5 ES-ATV can put up to 21,000 kg in LEO. The first such launch occurred at 04:03 GMT on 9 March 2008.

Comparable rockets: Delta IV - Atlas V - Chang Zheng 5 - Angara - Proton - Falcon 9 - H-IIB A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... GTO is an abbreviation of: Geostationary transfer orbit Great Teacher Onizuka, the manga and anime series Gran Turismo Omologato, Pontiac GTO. Not to be confused with Mitsubishi GTO Guanajuato, Gto. ... A remote camera captures a close-up view of a Space Shuttle Main Engine during a test firing at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to change the velocity of spacecraft and artificial satellites. ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... ATV vs Apollo vs Progress The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ... ATV vs Apollo vs Progress The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... For alternate meanings of GMT, see GMT (disambiguation). ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that some sections of this article be split into a new article entitled Delta IV launches. ... Atlas V is a launch vehicle formerly built by Lockheed Martin and now built by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama. ... Designed and developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), Long March 5 (LM-5, CZ-5, or Changzheng 5) is Chinas next generation space launch vehicle family, which would include a range of classes of launch vehicles for different missions. ... The Angara rocket is a planned space-launch vehicle, designed to place heavy payloads into orbit. ... The Proton rocket (Прото́н) (formal designation: UR-500) is a rocket used in an expendable launch system for both commercial and Russian government launches. ... The Falcon 9 is an EELV class launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2008. ... H-IIB CG The H-IIB is a family of liquid-fuelled rockets providing an expendable launch system for the main purpose of launching the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) towards the International Space Station. ...

Future developments

Ariane 5 ECB development hold

Ariane 5 ECB was planned to have an ESC-B upper stage using a new Vinci expander cycle type engine. The GTO capacity was to increase to 12,000 kg, but ECB was put on hold due to budget cuts. At an ESA conference (December 2005) in Berlin there was no decision to restart or cancel the program, meaning it is currently on hold. The Vinci engine, which is designed to power the Ariane 5 ECB upper stage, is still being developed, though at a lower pace. Consequently, a restart of the ESC-B program is not impossible at the ESA conference in 2008. Vinci upper stage engine, with nozzle extension deployed Vinci is a european cryogenic rocket engine currently under development at EADS SPACE Transportation. ... Expander rocket engine (closed cycle). ...

Solid Booster Stage

Work on the Ariane 5 Solid Booster Stage (EAP) motors have been continued in the Vega programme. The Vega 1st stage engine - the P80 engine - is a shorter derivation of the EAP. 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. Vega (ESA) Vega is a planned expendable launch system developed jointly by the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency since 1998, with the first launch planned for 2006. ...

These developments will probably later make their way back into the Ariane programme.^[3]

Launch history

Launch of the 34th Ariane 5 at Kourou.

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, which was arguably one of the most expensive computer bugs in history. A data conversion from 64-bit floating point to 16-bit signed integer value had caused a processor trap (operand error). The floating point number had a value too large to be represented by a 16-bit signed integer. Efficiency considerations had led to the disabling of the software handler (in Ada code) for this trap, although other conversions of comparable variables in the code remained protected. Flight 501, which took place on on June 4, 1996, was the first test flight of the Ariane 5 expendable launch system. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... A computer bug is an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program that prevents it from working as intended, or produces an incorrect result. ... This article is about the unit of information. ... A floating-point number is a digital representation for a number in a certain subset of the rational numbers, and is often used to approximate an arbitrary real number on a computer. ... Signedness is a property of an integer number used by a compiler to indicate if variables of a numeric type are capable of storing both positive and negative numbers, or just positive. ... Not to be confused with Natural number. ... Ada is a structured, statically typed, imperative, and object-oriented high-level computer programming language. ...

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 could not reach the intended orbit. is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

A subsequent test flight on 21 October 1998 proved successful and the first commercial launch occurred on 10 December 1999 with the launch of the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory satellite. is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... This article is about XMM-Newton. ...

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. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... U.S. military MILSTAR communications satellite A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to comsat) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purposes of telecommunications using radio at microwave frequencies. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An ion engine test An ion thruster is a type of spacecraft propulsion that uses beams of ions for propulsion. ...

The next launch did not occur until 1 March 2002, when the Envisat environmental satellite successfully reached an orbit 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 March 9, 2008 (~9000kg). is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Model of Envisat The Envisat (Environmental Satellite) satellite is an Earth-observing satellite built by the European Space Agency. ... Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit, similar to reconnaissance satellites but intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 EUR 630 million, was lost in the 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. is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Hot Bird or Hotbird is the common name of a family of satellites operated by Eutelsat, located at 13°E over the Equator (orbital position) and with a transmitting footprint over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. ... Conceptual drawing of the Rosetta orbiter and Philae lander Rosetta is a European Space Agency-led unmanned space mission launched in 2004 intended to study the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 6,000 kg. is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... SMART-1. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. ...

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 an Helios 2A observation satellite) delayed the attempt. is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Helios 2A is a French military observation satellite which was launched on December 18, 2004 by an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. ...

On 11 August 2005, the first Ariane 5GS (featuring the Ariane 5 ECA's improved solid motors) boosted Thaïcom-4/iPStar-1, the heaviest telecommunications satellite to date at 6,505 kg ^[4], into orbit. is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 8,000 kg. is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... SPACEWAY-2 is part of DirecTV’s constellation of direct broadcast satellites. ... A standard DirecTV satellite dish with 1 LNB on a roof DirecTV (trademarked as DIRECTV) is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service based in El Segundo, California, USA, that was founded in 1994. ...

On 11 March 2006, the fourth Ariane 5 ECA launch boosted another dual payload to orbit. This payload consisted of Hot Bird 7A for Eutelsat (a replacement for the Hot Bird 7 satellite lost in the first Ariane 5 ECA launch), and SPAINSAT, a Spanish government telecommunications satellite for HISDESAT. is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. ^[5] is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. ^[6] 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 9,535 kg. ^[7] is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Launch of the first Skynet satellite, Skynet 1A, by Delta rocket in 1969 from Cape Canaveral Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the British Armed... Star One is a Brazillian communication satellite company. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

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. is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... ATV vs Apollo vs Progress The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ... ISS redirects here. ...

On 18 April 2008, an Ariane 5ECA launched Star One C-2, and Vinasat-1, Vietnam's first satellite. is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ariane 5 flights

UTC redirects here. ... A vol (French for flight) is a once-obscure heraldic symbol consisting of a pair of outstretched, usually plumed birds wings, which are connected together at their shoulders without having any birds body in the middle. ... Flight 501, which took place on on June 4, 1996, was the first test flight of the Ariane 5 expendable launch system. ... Cluster satellite FM2 The Cluster mission is an European Space Agency (ESA) unmanned space mission mission to study the Earths magnetosphere using four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation. ... The Advanced Reentry Demonstrator (ARD) was a suborbital reentry test flown on the third Ariane 5 flight. ... This article is about XMM-Newton. ... Image taken by INSAT 2-E Shown here is a GSLV launch vehicle, one of the main launch vehicles for INSAT satellites. ... AO-40 is the on-orbit name designation of an Amateur Radio satellite (AMSAT) of the OSCAR series; formerly known as Phase 3D. The Project Manager was Peter Guelzow (Amateur Radio call sign DB2OS) of AMSAT Germany (AMSAT-DL). ... Astra 2D is one of a group of satellites operated by SES Astra, located at 28. ... Eurobird 1 is a Eutelsat operated satellite, used for digital television. ... Model of Envisat The Envisat (Environmental Satellite) satellite is an Earth-observing satellite built by the European Space Agency. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... SMART-1. ... Conceptual drawing of the Rosetta orbiter and Philae lander Rosetta is a European Space Agency-led unmanned space mission launched in 2004 intended to study the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. ... The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. ... PARASOL is a French built Earth observing research satellite. ... ... SPACEWAY-2 is part of DirecTV’s constellation of direct broadcast satellites. ... Image taken by INSAT 2-E Shown here is a GSLV launch vehicle, one of the main launch vehicles for INSAT satellites. ... EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation created through an international convention agreed by 19 European Member States: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. ... Hot Bird or Hotbird is the common name of a family of satellites operated by Eutelsat, located at 13°E over the Equator (orbital position) and with a transmitting footprint over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. ... In Thailand based Shinawatra Computer and Communications Co. ... A standard DirecTV satellite dish with 1 LNB on a roof DirecTV (trademarked as DIRECTV) is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service based in El Segundo, California, USA, that was founded in 1994. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... WildBlue Communications, Inc. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Launch of the first Skynet satellite, Skynet 1A, by Delta rocket in 1969 from Cape Canaveral Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the UK Armed... Intelsat, Ltd. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Launch of the first Skynet satellite, Skynet 1A, by Delta rocket in 1969 from Cape Canaveral Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the UK Armed... Star One is a Brazillian communication satellite company. ... ATV vs Apollo vs Progress The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ...

Upcoming flights

There is one Ariane 5 GS unit left (532) to be launched The Herschel Space Observatory is a mission of the European Space Agency. ... The Planck Satellite is a spacecraft that is designed to observe the anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation over the entire sky, with both high sensitivity and high angular resolution. ...

See also

• Comparison of heavy lift launch systems

References

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• ESA description of the Ariane 5
• Ariane 5 technical notes, available as PDF from http://www.arianespace.com/site/documents/document_sub_index.html
• (English) Arianespace: Ariane 5
• (English) Actually Launch on Arianespace Homepage
• (English) The last and the next Launch
• BBC News report on the (delayed) successful launch of the Ariane 5 ECA flight on November 16, 2005.
• Vinci Engine development
• Watch an Ariane 5 launch (webcast begins 20 mins before launch).
• Ariane 5 rocket explodes

v • d • e Expendable launch systems Current: Spaceflight Portal Ariane 5 · Atlas V · Cosmos-3M · Delta II · Delta IV · Dnepr · GSLV · H-IIA · Long March (1D, 2C, 2D, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4C) · Minotaur · Pegasus · Proton · PSLV · Rockot · Shavit · Shtil' · Start-1 · Strela · Soyuz (U, FG, 2) · Taurus · Tsyklon-3 · Volna · Zenit is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... An expendable launch system or expendable launch vehicle, ELV, is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. ... Atlas V is a launch vehicle formerly built by Lockheed Martin and now built by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama. ... The Cosmos-3M (11K65M) (Russian: Космос-3Ðœ) is a Russian space launch vehicle. ... The Delta II family of launch vehicles was designed and built by Boeings Integrated Defense Systems division and has been in service since 1989. ... It has been suggested that some sections of this article be split into a new article entitled Delta IV launches. ... The Dnepr rocket (Ukrainian: ; Russian: ) is a space launch vehicle named after the Dnieper River. ... The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (usually known by its acronym, GSLV) is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ... The H-IIA is a family of liquid-fuelled rockets providing an expendable launch system for the purpose of launching satellites into geostationary orbit. ... CZ-2F rocket A Long March rocket (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is any rocket in a family of expendable launch systems operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Long March 1D is the improved version of Long March 1, mainly for the thrustor of stage 1, from 1020 kilo newton to 1101. ... Long March 2C (CZ-2C) was a derivative of the Long March 2 rocket family, an expendable launch system operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... CZ-2F rocket A Long March rocket (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is any rocket in a family of expendable launch systems operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Long March family of rockets (長征火箭, Chang Zheng) is an expendable launch system designed and operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Long March family of rockets (長征火箭, Chang Zheng) is an expendable launch system designed and operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... CZ-2F rocket The Long March family of rockets (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is an expendable launch system operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Minotaur I Rocket is an American solid fuel rocket designed to launch small satellites. ... Pegasus rocket on the ground Pegasus rocket attached to bottom of carrier aircraft The Pegasus rocket is a winged space booster developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital). ... The Proton rocket (Прото́н) (formal designation: UR-500) is a rocket used in an expendable launch system for both commercial and Russian government launches. ... The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (usually known by its abbreviation, PSLV) is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ... Rockot The Rockot is a Russian space launch vehicle. ... Shavit (Hebrew: comet) is a launch vehicle produced by Israel. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Volna. ... START-1 is a Russian orbital (or satellite) launch vehicle based on RT-2PM Topol, a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile developed by Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. ... Soyuz rocket on launch pad. ... The Soyuz-U or 11A511U rocket in the Soviet rocket designation series was a version of the Soyuz launch vehicle first introduced in 1973. ... The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle is an improved version of Soyuz-U LV in R-7 family of rockets, designed and constructed by TsSKB-Progress in Samara. ... This article is about the carrier rocket. ... Taurus is an German/Swedish air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by EADS, Saab Bofors Dynamics and used by Germany and Sweden. ... Space launch vehicle Volna (wave in Russian), is a converted SLBM used for launching artificial satellites into Orbit. ... The Zenit rocket (Ukrainian: Зеніт, Russian: Зени́т; meaning Zenith) is a space launch vehicle manufactured by the Yuzhnoe Design Bureau of Ukraine. ... Planned: Angara · GSLV III · GX · H-IIB · KSLV · Long March 5 · Taurus II · Vega The Angara rocket is a planned space-launch vehicle, designed to place heavy payloads into orbit. ... The GSLV-III or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is a launch vehicle currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organization to launch heavy satellites into geostationary orbit, and will allow India to be less dependent on foreign rockets for heavy lifting. ... The GX launch vehicle is a rocket currently under development by the Galaxy Express Corporation, a joint-venture between Lockheed Martin (LM), Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and several other Japanese companies. ... H-IIB CG The H-IIB is a family of liquid-fuelled rockets providing an expendable launch system for the main purpose of launching the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) towards the International Space Station. ... The Korea Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV) will be the first space launcher of South Korea. ... Designed and developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), Long March 5 (LM-5, CZ-5, or Changzheng 5) is Chinas next generation space launch vehicle family, which would include a range of classes of launch vehicles for different missions. ... Vega (ESA) Vega is a planned expendable launch system developed jointly by the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency since 1998, with the first launch planned for 2006. ... Historical: Ariane (1, 2, 3, 4) · Athena · Atlas (ICBM derived, I, II, III) · Black Arrow · Delta III · Diamant · Energia · Europa · H-II · J-I · Juno I · Juno II · Lambda · Long March (1, 2A, 2E, 3, 4A) · Mu (V) · N1 · R-7 (Molniya (M), Polyot, Sputnik, Voskhod, Vostok) · Saturn (I, IB ,V, INT-21) · Scout · Sparta · Thor · Thor-Agena · Thor-Burner · Thorad-Agena · Titan (II, III, IIIB, IV) · Tsyklon (2) · Vanguard The Ariane 4 Ariane is a series of a European civilian expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. ... Ariane I is the first version of the Ariane launcher family. ... Ariane 2 and Ariane 3 were expendable launch systems in the Ariane family designed by the European Space Agency. ... 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 its subsidiary Arianespace. ... The Athena rocket is a Lockheed Martin launch vehicle. ... The Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, carrying astronaut John Glenn, was launched on an Atlas rocket. ... Atlas missile launch from Cape Canaveral in 1957 Atlas was a missile built by the Convair Division of General Dynamics. ... The Atlas I was an American expendable launch system, used in the 1990s to launch a variety of different satellites. ... Mission Atlas II is a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program. ... The maiden flight of the Atlas III The Lockheed Martin Atlas III was an American orbital launch vehicle, used between 2000 and 2005. ... Black Arrows engine This article is about the rocket, for the novel, see The Black Arrow Black Arrow was a British satellite carrier rocket, based on the Black Knight and Blue Streak rockets. ... Through the 90s, satellite masses were growing steadily. ... The Diamant rocket (diamant is French for diamond) was the first exclusively French expendable launch system. ... An artists conception of a Soviet Buran space shuttle lifting off atop the Energia booster. ... The Europa rocket was an early expendable launch system of the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), which was the precursor to the European Space Agency and its Ariane family of launchers. ... The H-II (H2) rocket was a Japanese satellite launch system, which flew seven times between 1994 and 1999, with five successes. ... The J-I was a solid rocket expendable launch vehicle from Japan. ... The Jupiter-C Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) was designed by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) The vehicle consists of a modified Redstone ballistic missile with three solid-propellant upper stages. ... Lambda is the name of a series of Japanese rockets. ... CZ-2F rocket A Long March rocket (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is any rocket in a family of expendable launch systems operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Long March 1 family (长征一号系列) of rocket is an expendable launch system operated by Peoples Republic of China. ... The Long March family of rockets (長征火箭, Chang Zheng) is an expendable launch system operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Mu and/or M designates a series of Japanese booster rockets. ... M-V rocket with the ASTRO-E satellite (Febr. ... Two N1 Moon rockets appear on the pads at Baikonur Cosmodrome in early July 1969. ... Molniya 8K78 is a modification of the well-known R-7 Semyorka rocket and has four stages. ... The Molniya-M (8K78M) is a Russian (previously Soviet) carrier rocket, derived from the R-7 Semyorka. ... The Polyot was an interim orbital carrier rocket, built to test ASAT spacecraft. ... The Voskhod rocket (Russian: Восход, translated as Sunrise) was a derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites. ... The Vostok rocket (Russian Восток, translated as East) was a derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used for other satellite launches. ... The SA-9 (Saturn I Block II), the eighth Saturn I flight, lifted off on February 16, 1965. ... The Saturn I was Americas first large clustered rocket. ... The Saturn IB was an uprated version of the Saturn I, which featured a much more powerful second stage, the S-IVB. Unlike the earlier Saturn I, the IB had enough throw weight to launch the Apollo Command/Service Module or Lunar Module into Earth orbit, which made it invaluable... For the moon designated Saturn V, see Rhea. ... This article is about the rocket. ... Scout launch (NASA) The Scout-rocket was an American rocket for launching small satellites. ... Sparta was the name of a rocket, consisting off a Redstone-rocket as first stage, an Antares as second and a BE-3 as third stage. ... Thor Able with Pioneer I at Cape Canaveral in Florida Thor was a space launch vehicle derived from the PGM-17 Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. ... A Thor Agena, ready to launch the SERT-2 (Space Electric Rocket Test-2) spacecraft, February 4, 1970 Thor-Agena was a series of orbital launch vehicles. ... The Thor-Burner was an American expendable launch system, a member of the Thor family. ... The Thorad-Agena was an American expendable launch system, derived from the Thor and Delta rockets. ... Titan was a family of U.S. expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. ... Titan II launch vehicle launching Gemini 11 (Sept. ... The Titan IIIC is a space booster used by the United States Air Force. ... Titan IIIB was the collective name for a number of derivatives of the Titan II ICBM and Titan III launch vehicle, modified by the addition of an Agena upper stage. ... The Titan IV family (including the IVA and IVB) of space boosters were used by the US Air Force. ... Tsyklon-3 rocket launching Meteor-3 weather observation satellite (Plesetsk, Aug. ... The Vanguard rocket is the first space launch vehicle of the United States. ...