european launchers for the world

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European l


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Coordination: Philippe Willekens


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HER

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European access to sp

A strategy for su

An ambitious space progra

independent launch systemrealised this in the early 19with ESA, the Ariane progrClear-sighted management transfer to private operationinstant success, giving ESA develop the new Ariane-5 hlauncher and study new spasystems for the future

Europes independent

vision

Since July 1973, when the Member Statesof ESA decided to start development ofthe Ariane launcher to give Europeindependent access to space at anaffordable cost, the Ariane programmehas proved an outstanding example ofsuccessful European collaboration. Withstrong backing from its industrial partnersand the political support of ESA Member


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Ariane 1/

1979

Evolution of a launcher

Ariane, which first flew in December 1979,

was designed primarily for puttingtelecommunications satellites into orbit twoat a time to reduce launch costs. As the sizeof satellites grew Ariane-1 gave way in1984 to the more powerful Ariane-2 andAriane-3, and these in turn weresuperseded by Ariane-4 in 1988.

Ariane 2 3 and 4 all belonged to the same

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198Power and reliability

The arrival of Ariane-4 in June 1988 increased the payloadthat could be placed in geostationary transfer orbit byalmost three times, from 1700 to 4800 kg. To meet varyingmarket demands it is available in six versions one bareand the others (depending on the mass to be put into orbit)fitted with two or four, solid or liquid strap-on boosters.

Ariane-4 also has a choice of widened fairings, designed tohouse larger and heavier satellites, and uses a special supportstructure (Spelda) for launching two satellites at a time

Ariane 4


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NE-5

Ariane 5

A newheavy-lift launcherfor Europe...

Ariane has never stopped evolving and thelatest version Ariane-5 is no exception. It isshorter, squatter and developed withflexibility in mind.

Ariane-5 is very much a new-generation launcher for

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Ariane 5 P

2001

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2002


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Completing the Ariane

Small launcher

Vega is the Ariane familylauncher designed to mavailable quickly and moaround 1,000 kg will bfacilities and hardware dprogramme. Vega will ea reduction in launch prinew categories of user.

Vega is designed as a si

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Ariane successors


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Ariane Return

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Telecommunications

Ariane is the worlds leading launcher forcommercial satellites operating from

geostationary orbit which have transformedglobal communications. The proliferation of

television would have been impossiblewithout a fleet of direct broadcast satellites

in geostationary orbit, many launchedby Ariane.


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European Space Agency

Agence spatiale europenne

ESA Publications Division

c/o ESTEC, PO Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The NetherlandsTel. (31) 71 565 3400 - Fax (31) 71 565 5433

Photos ESA, CNES, Arianespace

european launchers for the world

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