Ariane 5 Program Status
- Paper number
IAC-12,D2,1,7,x13119
- Author
Mr. Denis Schmitt, Arianespace, France
- Year
2012
- Abstract
Year 2011 was again a good one with 5 Ariane 5 launches (1 ES and 4 ECA) putting 8 commercial satellites in GTO on 16 globally launched and signing up to 10 GTO service contracts on 21 worldwide accessible. Ariane reliability has reached the Soyuz level, allowing Arianespace to demonstrate this year again its capability to deliver a steady service to commercial customers, a service on which they can lean with confidence. In parallel, the maiden flight of Soyuz from CSG succeeded on October 21, immediately followed by a second flight on December 16 at the specified second for the particularly demonstrative mission Pleiades-Elisa-SSOT, with 6 satellites on two SSO orbits followed by the Fregat reentry. 2012 began with the success of Vega maiden flight on February 13. The Arianespace family of launchers is now complete and fully operational. On this basis, 4 non GTO contracts have been signed in 2011 to be served by the three launchers, and the Galileo final deployment with Ariane 5 ES and Soyuz was signed recently. In conformance with the manifest, the ATV3 Edoardo Amaldi is to be launched on Mars 9, illustrating the Ariane capability to guarantee access to space for European governments. It should be followed in 2012 by 5 Ariane 5 ECA putting 10 spacecrafts on GTO orbit. The paper will present an overview of the results and lessons learnt of the recent Ariane 5 flights. Then, it will focus on some specific programs linked to Ariane 5 improvement, and give some words on the ESA Ministerial Conference preparation. 1. Recent flights results 4 Ariane should be launched up to IAC2012. Their results will be added to the 42 presently achieved flights for a global technical status at stage, system and quality levels. 2. Program status A main step was achieved with the ESA and Arianespace approval of new Management Specifications. They introduce formally the last ESA Ministerial Conference decisions in restructuring the launcher sector in Europe and the application of the French Space Operation Act. Some working groups result application should consolidate Ariane production and on going Ariane 5 system improvements will be presented. 3. ESA Ministerial Conference preparation New launcher programs will be proposed to the ESA member States for decision at the end of 2012. An Arianespace regard will be summarized a couple of months before this highly important event.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-12,D2,1,7,x13119.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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