The History of the Ariane Launcher in Spain

Paper number

IAC-06-E4.4.07

Author

Mr. Antonio Cuadrado, EADS CASA Espacio, Spain

Year

2006

Abstract

My paper deals with the History of the Ariane launcher development and production in Spain.
A short description of the paper is given hereafter:

Though Spain did not join the European Launcher Development Organization, ELDO, in the nineteen sixties, the proposal by France in the early seventies to Europeanise the L III S project – afterwards named Ariane –, soon raised a high interest in Spain, materialised in a small initial participation in the launcher development.
That is the origin of the Ariane programme in Spain.
The paper has plenty of details gathered by people who actually participated in the programme or, some times, makes reference to fully documented events.
The author explains the first related activities in COPERS and the evolution towards the creation of the European Space Agency in which Spain was an original Member State. Before entering in the details of the industrial participation, the main part of the document, there is a description of the political framework. It is contained in the document “Spain and the Agreement-Declaration of the Ariane Programme” which defines the legal rules to start working in the launcher development and subsequent production.
After a short description of the first Ariane 1 launcher, the paper presents the origin and the role of Arianespace.
Then, the document describes in detail the Spanish industrial content in the various models of the launcher, explaining the evolution from Ariane 1 to Ariane 5 and the associated boost of the technology developments, as for instance, the change from aluminium to composites fibre placement. The associated ground hardware and services are also part of the Spanish participation. 
There is also a reference to the growing Spanish contribution to the programme and a view to the future in a competitive world as is the launch services.

Abstract document

IAC-06-E4.4.07.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-E4.4.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.