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Ariane 4

Ariane 4 was the modular final evolution of the original Ariane technology line and the commercial workhorse of European launch services from 1988 through 2003. Its six configurations flew 116 missions: 7 Ariane 40, 15 Ariane 42P, 13 Ariane 42L, 15 Ariane 44P, 26 Ariane 44LP, and 40 Ariane 44L. The fleet achieved 113 successful launches, including a final run of 74 consecutive successes.

Ariane 4
NASA / Bill Ingalls · NASA asset; NASA Image Library item NHQ202112250015 identifies the exact Ariane 5 launch image and credits NASA / Bill Ingalls. NASA’s current Images and Media Usage Guidelines generally permit factual or informational/editorial use with NASA attribution and without implying NASA endorsement; third-party material identified as copyright-protected remains separately restricted. NASA insignia, logotype, identifiers, visible partner marks, and any commercial, promotional, merchandise, or other protected-rights use remain separately clearance-sensitive; verify before such use. · Source
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Identity

Aliases
Ariane-4Ariane workhorse
Family Name
Ariane
Full Name
Ariane 4
Status
retired
Type
rocket
Variant Name
4

Details

Description
Ariane 4 was the modular final evolution of the original Ariane technology line and the commercial workhorse of European launch services from 1988 through 2003. Its six configurations flew 116 missions: 7 Ariane 40, 15 Ariane 42P, 13 Ariane 42L, 15 Ariane 44P, 26 Ariane 44LP, and 40 Ariane 44L. The fleet achieved 113 successful launches, including a final run of 74 consecutive successes.
First Flight Year
1,988
Last Flight Year
2,003
Operator
Parent Vehicle Family
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Viking 5 engines on the Ariane 4 first stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single Viking 4 engine on the Ariane 4 second stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      third-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single HM7B cryogenic engine on the Ariane 4 third stage.
    Name
    Ariane 4 40
    Notes
    No strap-on boosters; baseline Ariane 4 liquid-core stack.
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Viking 5 engines on the Ariane 4 first stage.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Two Ariane 4 solid-propellant strap-on booster systems; source does not establish a narrower motor model.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single Viking 4 engine on the Ariane 4 second stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      third-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single HM7B cryogenic engine on the Ariane 4 third stage.
    Name
    Ariane 4 42P
    Notes
    Two solid strap-on boosters added to the Ariane 4 40 core.
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Viking 5 engines on the Ariane 4 first stage.
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Ariane 4 solid-propellant strap-on booster systems; source does not establish a narrower motor model.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single Viking 4 engine on the Ariane 4 second stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      third-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single HM7B cryogenic engine on the Ariane 4 third stage.
    Name
    Ariane 4 44P
    Notes
    Four solid strap-on boosters added to the Ariane 4 core.
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Viking 5 engines on the Ariane 4 first stage.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Two liquid strap-on boosters, each powered by one fixed Viking 6 engine.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single Viking 4 engine on the Ariane 4 second stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      third-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single HM7B cryogenic engine on the Ariane 4 third stage.
    Name
    Ariane 4 42L
    Notes
    Two liquid Viking 6 strap-on boosters added to the Ariane 4 40 core.
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Viking 5 engines on the Ariane 4 first stage.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Two solid-propellant strap-on booster systems; source does not establish a narrower motor model.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Two fixed Viking 6 liquid strap-on booster engines.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single Viking 4 engine on the Ariane 4 second stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      third-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single HM7B cryogenic engine on the Ariane 4 third stage.
    Name
    Ariane 4 44LP
    Notes
    Two solid and two liquid strap-on boosters around the Ariane 4 three-stage core.
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four Viking 5 engines on the Ariane 4 first stage.
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Four fixed Viking 6 liquid strap-on booster engines.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single Viking 4 engine on the Ariane 4 second stage.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      third-stage
      Variant Notes
      Single HM7B cryogenic engine on the Ariane 4 third stage.
    Name
    Ariane 4 44L
    Notes
    Four liquid Viking 6 strap-on boosters around the Ariane 4 three-stage core.
Rocket Specs
Payload Capacity
GTO
…
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
3

Links

Official Url
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/History_of_Ariane_4
Wikipedia Url
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_4

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 13, 2026 at 10:20:41 UTC
Updated Time
August 1, 2026 at 11:52:20 UTC
Image
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Ariane 4 - AeroVia