, Ariane 6 was projected to be launched for about €70 million per flight or about half of the Ariane 5 current price. == Notable launches == Ariane 5's first test flight (Ariane 5 Flight 501) on 4 June 1996 failed, with the rocket self-destructing 37 seconds after launch because of a malfunction in the control software.
This mission anomaly marked the end of 82nd consecutive success streak since 2003. == Launch history == === Launch statistics === Ariane 5 rockets have accumulated 109 launches since 1996, 104 of which were successful, yielding a success rate.
The software, written in Ada, was included in the Ariane 5 through the reuse of an entire Ariane 4 subsystem despite the fact that the particular software containing the bug, which was just a part of the subsystem, was not required by the Ariane 5 because it has a different preparation sequence than the Ariane 4. The second test flight (L502, on 30 October 1997) was a partial failure.
A subsequent test flight (L503, on 21 October 1998) proved successful and the first commercial launch (L504) occurred on 10 December 1999 with the launch of the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory satellite. Another partial failure occurred on 12 July 2001, with the delivery of two satellites into an incorrect orbit, at only half the height of the intended GTO.
A subsequent test flight (L503, on 21 October 1998) proved successful and the first commercial launch (L504) occurred on 10 December 1999 with the launch of the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory satellite. Another partial failure occurred on 12 July 2001, with the delivery of two satellites into an incorrect orbit, at only half the height of the intended GTO.
Prior to that mission, the last such recovery and testing was done in 2003. The French M51 SLBM shares a substantial amount of technology with these boosters. In February 2000, the suspected nose cone of an Ariane 5 booster washed ashore on the South Texas coast, and was recovered by beachcombers before the government could get to it. === Second stage === The second stage is on top of the main stage and below the payload.
A subsequent test flight (L503, on 21 October 1998) proved successful and the first commercial launch (L504) occurred on 10 December 1999 with the launch of the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory satellite. Another partial failure occurred on 12 July 2001, with the delivery of two satellites into an incorrect orbit, at only half the height of the intended GTO.
However, the failure of the first ECA flight in 2002, combined with a deteriorating satellite industry, caused ESA to cancel development in 2003.
The ESA Artemis telecommunications satellite was able to reach its intended orbit on 31 January 2003, through the use of its experimental ion propulsion system. The next launch did not occur until 1 March 2002, when the Envisat environmental satellite successfully reached an orbit of 800 km above the Earth in the 11th launch.
At 8111 kg, it was the heaviest single payload until the launch of the first ATV on 9 March 2008 (19,360 kg). The first launch of the ECA variant on 11 December 2002 ended in failure when a main booster problem caused the rocket to veer off-course, forcing its self-destruction three minutes into the flight.
It has been used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) or low Earth orbit (LEO). The rocket had a streak of 82 consecutive successful launches between 9 April 2003 and 12 December 2017. A direct successor system, Ariane 6, is in development. The system was originally designed as an expendable launch system by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French government's space agency, in close cooperation with Germany and other European partners.
Prior to that mission, the last such recovery and testing was done in 2003. The French M51 SLBM shares a substantial amount of technology with these boosters. In February 2000, the suspected nose cone of an Ariane 5 booster washed ashore on the South Texas coast, and was recovered by beachcombers before the government could get to it. === Second stage === The second stage is on top of the main stage and below the payload.
However, the failure of the first ECA flight in 2002, combined with a deteriorating satellite industry, caused ESA to cancel development in 2003.
The ESA Artemis telecommunications satellite was able to reach its intended orbit on 31 January 2003, through the use of its experimental ion propulsion system. The next launch did not occur until 1 March 2002, when the Envisat environmental satellite successfully reached an orbit of 800 km above the Earth in the 11th launch.
After this failure, Arianespace SA delayed the expected January 2003 launch for the Rosetta mission to 26 February 2004, but this was again delayed to early March 2004 due to a minor fault in the foam that protects the cryogenic tanks on the Ariane 5.
As of June 2017, the failure of the first ECA launch was the last failure of an Ariane 5; since then, 82 consecutive launches have been successful, from April 2003 with the launch of INSAT-3A and Galaxy 12 satellites, to flight 240 in December 2017. On 27 September 2003, the last Ariane 5 G boosted three satellites (including the first European lunar probe, SMART-1), in Flight 162.
This mission anomaly marked the end of 82nd consecutive success streak since 2003. == Launch history == === Launch statistics === Ariane 5 rockets have accumulated 109 launches since 1996, 104 of which were successful, yielding a success rate.
After this failure, Arianespace SA delayed the expected January 2003 launch for the Rosetta mission to 26 February 2004, but this was again delayed to early March 2004 due to a minor fault in the foam that protects the cryogenic tanks on the Ariane 5.
On 18 July 2004, an Ariane 5 G+ boosted what was at the time the heaviest telecommunication satellite ever, Anik F2, weighing almost 6000 kg. The first successful launch of the Ariane 5 ECA took place on 12 February 2005.
The launch had been originally scheduled for October 2004, but additional testing and the military requiring a launch at that time (of a Helios 2A observation satellite) delayed the attempt. On 11 August 2005, the first Ariane 5 GS (featuring the Ariane 5 ECA's improved solid motors) boosted Thaïcom-4/iPStar-1, the heaviest telecommunications satellite to date at 6505 kg, into orbit. On 16 November 2005, the third Ariane 5 ECA launch (the second successful ECA launch) took place.
On 18 July 2004, an Ariane 5 G+ boosted what was at the time the heaviest telecommunication satellite ever, Anik F2, weighing almost 6000 kg. The first successful launch of the Ariane 5 ECA took place on 12 February 2005.
The launch had been originally scheduled for October 2004, but additional testing and the military requiring a launch at that time (of a Helios 2A observation satellite) delayed the attempt. On 11 August 2005, the first Ariane 5 GS (featuring the Ariane 5 ECA's improved solid motors) boosted Thaïcom-4/iPStar-1, the heaviest telecommunications satellite to date at 6505 kg, into orbit. On 16 November 2005, the third Ariane 5 ECA launch (the second successful ECA launch) took place.
Compared to an Ariane 5 ECA model, the payload to GTO was to increase by 15% to 11.5 tonnes and the cost-per-kilogram of each launch is projected to decline by 20%. ==== Development ==== Originally known as the Ariane 5 ECB, Ariane 5 ME was to have its first flight in 2006.
This was the rocket's heaviest dual payload to date, at more than 8000 kg. On 27 May 2006, an Ariane 5 ECA rocket set a new commercial payload lifting record of 8.2 tonnes.
Ariane 5 ECA uses the ESC (Étage Supérieur Cryotechnique — Cryogenic Upper Stage), which is fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The EPS upper stage is capable of multiple ignitions, first demonstrated during flight V26 which was launched on 5 October 2007.
The dual-payload consisted of the Thaicom 5 and Satmex 6 satellites. On 4 May 2007, the Ariane 5 ECA set another new commercial record, lifting into transfer orbit the Astra 1L and Galaxy 17 communication satellites with a combined weight of 8.6 tonnes, and a total payload weight of 9.4 tonnes.
This record was again broken by another Ariane 5 ECA, launching the Skynet 5B and Star One C1 satellites, on 11 November 2007.
The first operational use of restart capability as part of a mission came on 9 March 2008, when two burns were made to deploy the first Automated Transfer Vehicle into a circular parking orbit, followed by a third burn after ATV deployment to de-orbit the stage.
The ESA Council of Ministers agreed to fund development of the new upper stage in November 2008. In 2009, EADS Astrium was awarded a €200 million contract, and on 10 April 2012 received another €112 million contract to continue development of the Ariane 5 ME with total development effort expected to cost €1 billion. On 21 November 2012, ESA agreed to continue with the Ariane 5 ME to meet the challenge of lower priced competitors.
At 8111 kg, it was the heaviest single payload until the launch of the first ATV on 9 March 2008 (19,360 kg). The first launch of the ECA variant on 11 December 2002 ended in failure when a main booster problem caused the rocket to veer off-course, forcing its self-destruction three minutes into the flight.
The total payload weight for this launch was of 9535 kg. On 9 March 2008, the first Ariane 5 ES-ATV was launched to deliver the first ATV called Jules Verne to the International Space Station.
The most recent attempt was for the first Ariane 5 ECA mission in 2009.
The ESA Council of Ministers agreed to fund development of the new upper stage in November 2008. In 2009, EADS Astrium was awarded a €200 million contract, and on 10 April 2012 received another €112 million contract to continue development of the Ariane 5 ME with total development effort expected to cost €1 billion. On 21 November 2012, ESA agreed to continue with the Ariane 5 ME to meet the challenge of lower priced competitors.
It also debuted a location system using Galileo navigation satellites. === GTO payload weight records === On 22 April 2011, the Ariane 5 ECA flight VA-201 broke a commercial record, lifting Yahsat 1A and Intelsat New Dawn with a total payload weight of 10,064 kg to transfer orbit.
The ESA Council of Ministers agreed to fund development of the new upper stage in November 2008. In 2009, EADS Astrium was awarded a €200 million contract, and on 10 April 2012 received another €112 million contract to continue development of the Ariane 5 ME with total development effort expected to cost €1 billion. On 21 November 2012, ESA agreed to continue with the Ariane 5 ME to meet the challenge of lower priced competitors.
This record was later broken again during the launch of Ariane 5 ECA flight VA-208 on 2 August 2012, lifting a total of 10,182 kg into the planned geosynchronous transfer orbit, which was broken again 6 months later on flight VA-212 with 10,317 kg sent towards geosynchronous transfer orbit.
ESA halted funding for the development of Ariane 5 ME in late 2014 to prioritize development of Ariane 6. The Ariane 5 ME was to use a new upper stage, with increased propellant volume, powered by the new Vinci engine.
Ariane 5 ME qualification flight was scheduled for mid-2018, followed by gradual introduction into service. On 2 December 2014, ESA decided to stop funding the development of Ariane 5 ME and instead focus on Ariane 6, which was expected to have a lower cost per launch and allow more flexibility in the payloads (using two or four P120C solid boosters depending on total payload mass). === Solid propellant stage === Work on the Ariane 5 EAP motors has been continued in the Vega programme.
In June 2016, the GTO record was raised to 10,730 kg, on the first rocket in history that carried a satellite dedicated to financial institutions.
The payload record was pushed a further 5 kg to on 24 August 2016 with the launch of Intelsat 33e and Intelsat 36.
It has been used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) or low Earth orbit (LEO). The rocket had a streak of 82 consecutive successful launches between 9 April 2003 and 12 December 2017. A direct successor system, Ariane 6, is in development. The system was originally designed as an expendable launch system by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French government's space agency, in close cooperation with Germany and other European partners.
As of June 2017, the failure of the first ECA launch was the last failure of an Ariane 5; since then, 82 consecutive launches have been successful, from April 2003 with the launch of INSAT-3A and Galaxy 12 satellites, to flight 240 in December 2017. On 27 September 2003, the last Ariane 5 G boosted three satellites (including the first European lunar probe, SMART-1), in Flight 162.
On 1 June 2017, the payload record was broken again to carrying ViaSat-2 and Eutelsat 172B. === VA241 anomaly === On 25 January 2018, an Ariane 5 ECA launched SES-14 and Al Yah 3 satellites.
With first flight planned for 2018, it would have become ESA's principal launcher until the arrival of the new Ariane 6 version.
On 1 June 2017, the payload record was broken again to carrying ViaSat-2 and Eutelsat 172B. === VA241 anomaly === On 25 January 2018, an Ariane 5 ECA launched SES-14 and Al Yah 3 satellites.
As of 16 February 2018, Al Yah 3 was approaching the intended geostationary orbit, after series of recovery maneuvers had been performed.
In 2020, its first test launch was set to not earlier than 2021.
The BSAT-3b satellite, however, is operating normally. The VA253 launch on 15 August 2020 introduced two small changes that increased lift capacity by about ; a lighter avionics and guidance equipment bay and modified pressure vents on the payload fairing which will be required for the future James Webb Space Telescope launch.
In 2020, its first test launch was set to not earlier than 2021.
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