ARIANE 5, EUROPE’S HEAVY LAUNCHER

ARIANE 5, EUROPE’S HEAVY LAUNCHER

Since 1979, Europe has had its own access to space with the highly successful series of Ariane launchers.

Currently, two versions of Ariane 5 are in use. The Ariane 5 ECA is designed to launch payloads weighing up to 10 tonnes, mainly telecommunications satellites, into GTO, Geostationary Transfer Orbit, and can handle dual launches of large satellites.

The Ariane 5 ES has been developed to deliver the ATV, Automated Transfer Vehicle, into its rendezvous orbit with the International Space Station. ESA’s ATV is a series of unmanned space transport vehicles that ferry supplies to the Station.

To maintain the competitiveness of Ariane 5 in the commercial market, ESA is preparing a more powerful and versatile version of the launcher, Ariane 5 ME, Mid-life Evolution, that will replace current ones within the next decade. This vehicle will respond to the need for heavier payloads for more complex missions. Moreover, Ariane 5 ME it will allow satellites to be injected into higher orbits thanks to the reignition capability of its upper stage.