Ariane 5

The Ariane 5 is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and operated by Arianespace. It was designed as a successor to the Ariane 4, offering a significant increase in payload capacity. The Ariane 5 is primarily used for launching satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and low Earth orbit (LEO).

Development began in 1988, and the first launch took place in 1996. Early flights experienced some failures and anomalies, but the Ariane 5 subsequently became one of the most reliable and commercially successful launch vehicles in the world.

The Ariane 5 consists of a main cryogenic stage powered by a Vulcain engine, two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), and an upper stage. Different upper stages have been used throughout its operational history, including the ESC-A and ESC-B. The configuration allows for flexible mission profiles and the launch of single or multiple payloads.

Key features of the Ariane 5 include its high payload capacity, its ability to launch dual-satellite payloads, and its overall reliability. It has been used to launch a wide range of spacecraft, including telecommunications satellites, scientific research missions, and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Ariane 5 was eventually superseded by the Ariane 6, with the final Ariane 5 launch taking place in July 2023.