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
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The core cryogenic stage of the second Ariane 5 launch vehicle hoisted in the Launcher Integration Building at the Ariane Launch Complex 3 (known as ELA-3) at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on 10 August 2004.
This stage carried 173 tonnes of propellant and was powered by a Vulcain 2 engine, which delivered 20% more thrust than the original Vulcain 1. The second Ariane 5 ECA mission (V164), was launched on 12 February 2005 and two satellites were lofted to orbit: XTAR-EUR, a secured communication satellite operated by XTAR LLC , and ESA's Sloshsat-FLEVO experimental satellite to investigate propellant sloshing in orbiting spacecraft. A satellite mock-up, MaqSat B2, was also flown but not released to reduce orbital debris.
The Ariane 5 ECA was a major upgrade of the Ariane 5 design to increase its payload capacity to geostationary transfer orbit to 10 tonnes. The Ariane 5 program was decided by ESA in 1987 to provide a successor to the initial Ariane 1 to 4 series of vehicles in order to ensure continuity of Europe's guaranteed access to space. The development programme was delegated to France's space agency CNES. Ariane 5 was introduced in 1996 and became operational in 1999 with Arianespace taking over commercial operations on behalf of ESA.