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Launch Vehicle

Ariane 5

Europe

Europe's heavy-lift workhorse for nearly three decades, whose maiden flight famously exploded 37 seconds after liftoff due to a software error before it went on to become one of the most reliable launch vehicles ever built. It launched the James Webb Space Telescope and Rosetta comet mission before its retirement in 2023.

Facts
Vehicle Class
Heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle 2
Manufacturer
ArianeGroup 2
First Flight Date
1996-06-04 2
Date of its failed maiden flight; regular successful service followed after a redesign.
Status
Retired in 2023 after its 117th and final flight, succeeded by Ariane 6. 2
Height (m)
52 2
Payload to LEO (kg)
Approximately 21,000 kg. 2
Classification
Vehicle Class
Expendable Launch Vehicle 1
Status
Status (category)
Retired 2
Ariane 5
Filter Results1 entry
Connections

Has Vehicle Class

Operated By

Source European Space Agency: History
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation
2. European Space Agency: History
European Space Agency
  • https://www.esa.int/About_Us/50_years_of_ESA/Ariane_5_the_story_behind_the_100_launches
    Subsequent launches have built up an impressive record and Ariane 5 is now known as one of the most reliable launchers in the world.
  • Operated By: Arianespace
  • Includes: Ariane 6
Ariane 5 (Wikipedia)
  • Ariane 5, Wikipedia - lead section, vehicle kind (expendable)
    The system was designed as an expendable launch vehicle by the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), the French government's space agency, in cooperation with various European partners.
  • In Group: Ariane Launch Vehicles, Lead sentence
    Ariane 5 (French: [aʁjan sɛ̃k]) is a retired European heavy-lift space launch vehicle operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA).
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