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Ariane 5

Ariane 5 was Europe's retired heavy-lift expendable launch-vehicle family, flown 117 times from the Guiana Space Centre between 1996 and 2023. Its G, G+, GS, ECA, and ES configurations served commercial communications, Earth observation, navigation, station logistics, and deep-space missions including Rosetta, BepiColombo, James Webb, and Juice.

Ariane 5
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-5A5Ariane 5 launch vehicle family
Family Name
Ariane 5
Full Name
Ariane 5
Status
retired
Type
rocket

Details

Description
Ariane 5 was Europe's retired heavy-lift expendable launch-vehicle family, flown 117 times from the Guiana Space Centre between 1996 and 2023. Its G, G+, GS, ECA, and ES configurations served commercial communications, Earth observation, navigation, station logistics, and deep-space missions including Rosetta, BepiColombo, James Webb, and Juice.
Dimensions
Diameter
…
First Flight Year
1,996
Last Flight Year
2,023
Operator
Parent Vehicle Family
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Vulcain 1 powers the Ariane 5 cryogenic main stage (EPC).
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first-stage
      Variant Notes
      Twin Ariane 5 EAP solid-propellant booster systems; the integrated EAP identity is used because the cited sources establish the booster system rather than a narrower motor variant.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second-stage
      Variant Notes
      Aestus storable-propellant engine on the Ariane 5 EPS upper stage.
    Name
    Ariane 5 Generic standard propulsion
    Notes
    Representative Ariane 5 Generic configuration: one Vulcain 1 cryogenic core engine, two EAP solid boosters, and one Aestus storable-propellant upper-stage engine.
Rocket Specs
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
2
Strap On Boosters Count
2

Links

Official Url
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_5

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 13, 2026 at 09:15:55 UTC
Updated Time
August 1, 2026 at 09:22:23 UTC
Image
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