The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThe protective payload fairing proved by the Ariane 5 launch flight VA238 on 28 June 2017 was built from only four instead of the usual 14 panels. Fewer metallic junctions reduced the mass of the fairing by 107 kg, giving a performance gain of about 10 kg in geostationary transfer orbit.
Different composite material and optimised manufacturing processes also lowered costs. From August 2017, Vega will use fairings built in the same way.
Switzerland’s Ruag Space with Airbus Safran Launchers as prime contractor, developed this fairing under ESA’s Launchers Exploitation Accompaniment Programme which nurtures innovation within European industry to guarantee independent access to space for Europe.
This new fairing for Ariane 5 qualifies the manufacturing technology that will be used for Ariane 6, which will comprise only two panels.