Ariane 1 to 3 - Developmental launchers
Ariane 1 - first of the Ariane family
The first Ariane launcher was fired up on 24 December 1979. For the first time in the history of the space adventure, a heavy 3-stage launcher capable of placing a nearly 1-tonne satellite in geostationary orbit was successfully sent aloft.
First launch of Ariane 1 on December 24th, 1979. Crédits : CNES/ESA, 1979
The launcher qualification programme involved 4 test flights. The second attempt, in 1980, failed. Modifications, evaluations and verifications took nearly a year to analyse the causes of that failure. Two successful flights in 1981 allowed Europe to declare the launcher operational at the end of 1981.
Eleven launches took place during the Ariane 1 programme. The last two, in 1985, placed the Giotto probe and the SPOT 1 satellite in orbit.
Ariane 2 and 3 - improved performance
In 1976, CNES made proposals to ESA for improved performance of the launcher. Improvements covered several points:
These changes led to Ariane 2 and 3. The most important modification for Ariane 3 was the addition of 2 solid-fuel boosters to the first stage of the rocket.
- Increasing the amount of thrust and the engine burn time
- Improving launcher power by adding solid-fuel boosters
- Increasing the payload fairing volume to launch 2 satellites at the same time.
These changes led to Ariane 2 and 3. The most important modification for Ariane 3 was the addition of 2 solid-fuel boosters to the first stage of the rocket.
Ariane 2 (left) and Ariane 3 (right) on the launch pad. Crédits : CNES
ESA adopted the programme on 3 July 1980. As it did for Ariane 1, France financed about 2/3 of the programme. ESA assumed oversight responsibility for the programme and assigned project execution to CNES.
Just as for Ariane 1, launcher construction involved over 100 European companies, including Aerospatiale, Matra and Air Liquide. Work was shared among the participating countries in proportion to their financial contribution.
Ariane 3's first flight successfully took place on 4 August 1984 with the launch of the ECS 2 and Telecom 1A satellites. The series was completed on 12 July 1989 and totalled 6 flights for Ariane 2 and eleven flights for Ariane 3.
Just as for Ariane 1, launcher construction involved over 100 European companies, including Aerospatiale, Matra and Air Liquide. Work was shared among the participating countries in proportion to their financial contribution.
Ariane 3's first flight successfully took place on 4 August 1984 with the launch of the ECS 2 and Telecom 1A satellites. The series was completed on 12 July 1989 and totalled 6 flights for Ariane 2 and eleven flights for Ariane 3.
Ariane 1, 2 and 3 launchers. Source : ESA
