Ariane 5 is a retired European heavy-lift space launch vehicle developed and operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in French Guiana. It was used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), low Earth orbit (LEO) or further into space. The launch vehicle had a streak of 82 consecutive successful launches between 9 April 2003 and 12 December 2017. Since 2014, Ariane 6, a direct successor system, is in development.
Ariane 5 flight VA-256 on the launch pad with the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021
Vulcain engine
EPS Upper Stage used on Ariane 5ES
Belgian components produced for the Ariane 5 European heavy-lift launch vehicle explained
Heavy-lift launch vehicle
A heavy-lift launch vehicle is an orbital launch vehicle capable of generating a large amount of lift to reach its intended orbit. Heavy-lift launch vehicles generally are capable of lifting payloads between 20,000 to 50,000 kg or between 20,000 to 100,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO). As of 2024, operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include the Long March 5 and the Proton-M.
Image: Falcon Heavy Demo Mission (39337245145)
Image: 长征五号遥二火箭转场
Image: On the launch pad
