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Ariane 5 from European Space Agency.
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| Main Data |
Ariane 5G |
| Height |
up to 52 m |
| Diameter |
up to 5.4 m |
| Liftoff mass* |
710 tonnes |
| Max. payload mass** |
5.97
tonnes | |
Ariane
5 is designed to meet the challenges of the new millennium. It meets
several requirements: the ability to launch larger satellites, the
increasing use of low orbits for servicing the International Space Station
and the need to reduce costs while maintaining a high reliability.
Its first successful launch took place on 30 October 1997 while its
first operational flight occurred in December 1999, when it launched ESA’s
X-ray Multi-Mirror (XMM). Ariane 5 has proved highly reliable and
economic, and has been used to launch satellites for communications, Earth
observation and scientific research into geostationary orbits and
Sun-synchronous orbits. ESA had to build a new launch site at Europe’s
spaceport in Kourou for this new member of the Ariane family as well as
facilities to make the solid boosters needed to launch this, the most
powerful launcher in the Ariane family.
Ariane 5 can be used for launches into geostationary orbit,
medium-Earth orbit and low-Earth orbit, as well as for launches to other
planets.
* Double launch
** Includes spacecraft, dual launch system (if
used) and adaptor(s)- Launch in GTO
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