The Ariane serie at a glance
From Ariane 1 to Ariane 5
| 210 t |
219 t |
234 t |
243 to 480 t |
750 to 780 t |
| 1.75 t |
2.20 t |
2.60 t |
2 to 4.8 t |
6.9 to 10 t |
| 250 t |
270 t |
270 t |
270 to 540 t |
1 200 to 1 300 t |
| 47.4 m |
49 m |
49 m |
59 m |
47 to 57 m |
| 11 |
6 |
11 |
116 |
49 ** |
| 9 |
5 |
10 |
113 |
46** |
| 1981/1986 |
1986/1989 |
1984/1989 |
1988/2003 |
1996/... |
* Thrust is measured in kilo-newtons (kN) but is commonly expressed in tonnes. To interpret the value of a force expressed in kN, divide it by ten to obtain a figure roughly corresponding to the mass (in tonnes) that the force can lift.
** Figures on 1st January, 2010
About Ariane 5
| Up to 52 m |
Up to 52 m |
Up to 47 m |
Up to 52 m |
Up to 53 m |
| 746 t |
746 t |
750 t |
780 t |
775 t |
| 6,9 t (GTO1) |
6,9 t (GTO1) |
6,5 t (GTO1) |
10 t (GTO1) |
Up to 21 t (on low-Earth orbit at a 300 km altitude) |
| 5,9 t (GTO1) |
- |
6 t (GTO1) |
9,4 t (GTO1) |
- |
| Vulcain |
Vulcain |
Vulcain |
Vulcain 2 |
Vulcain 2 |
| Storable Propellant stage (EPS) with Aestus engine |
Storable Propellant stage (EPS) with Aestus engine |
Storable Propellant stage (EPS) with Aestus engine |
Cryogenic upper stage ESC-A with HM-7B engine |
Storable Propellant stage (EPS) with Aestus engine |
| - |
Improvement of the Storable Propellant stage (EPS) performance |
Improvement of the Storable Propellant stage (EPS) and EAP2 boosters performances |
Improvement of the EAP2 boosters performances |
Changes on the Vehicule Equipment Bay for the ATV |
| 4 June 1996 (failed) |
2 March 2004 |
11 August 2005 |
11 December 2002 (failed) |
9 March 2008 |
| 16 |
3 |
6 |
23 |
1 |
| 14 |
3 |
6 |
22 |
1 |
* Figures on 1st January 2010
1 GTO : Geostationary Transfert Orbit
2 EAP : Etages d'Accélération à Poudre, solid booster stages
Ariane 5 ECA
| Total launch mass |
780 t |
| Satellite mass |
9.4 t |
| Total propellant mass |
650 t |
| Main Vulcain engine thrust at lift-off |
116 t |
| Thrust from the 2 solid rocket boosters |
1,370 t |
| Total height |
53 m |
