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Further development to adapt Ariane 5 to the market

Berlin/Bremen, 01 May 2002

The requirements of commercial satellite operators and other space payload customers are growing steadily. Communications satellites, for example, do not only increase in efficiency but also in size and weight. However, maintaining the position as the world's leading supplier of launcher systems in the long run requires continuous development of the European launch vehicle Ariane 5. Within the Ariane 5 Plus programme, the Space Infrastructure business division of Astrium is responsible for all development activities in connection with the Ariane 5 upper stage and is thus the sole manufacturer of upper stages for all the Ariane versions.

Even today, Ariane 5 is considered the world's most powerful launcher for the transport of payloads to low-earth (400 km to 1,000 kin) and geostationary orbits (36,000 kin). Ariane 5 is a two-stage system with two solid-propellant boosters. Astrium is responsible for the complete upper stage including the Aestus engine, for the "brain" of Ariane 5, the Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB, control unit), for the attitude control system SCA, the dual-launch structure Speltra/Sylda and the thrust chamber system "Vulcain" of the main stage.

After completion of the development phase, however, it turned out that the original design specification, a maximum payload capacity of six tons for transports to geostationary transfer orbits, would be insufficient for many future applications. Development of the Ariane 5 aims at gradually and continually improving payload capacity and range of applications of the launcher in order to be able to offer potential customers best launch service on accommodating terms.

Further development of Ariane 5 consists of the following major steps:

* Development of a new upper stage (ESC-A) using an already existing cryogenic engine from Ariane 4;
* Augmentation of Vulcain engine thrust and main stage propellant mass (Ariane 5 Evolution);
* Development of the new cryogenic upper stage engine VINCI and adaptation to the upper stage ESC-A (name of the new upper stage: ESC-B);
* Modification of the current Ariane 5 upper stage including Aestus engine to allow versatile missions profiles through reignition (EPS-Versatile);
* Development of a new Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB).

Development of a new upper stage (ESC-A)

Main part of the latest Ariane 5 adaptation-to-market programme (Ariane 5 Plus) is the development of the new upper stage ESC-A (Etage Supérieur Cryotechnique A). The upper stage, which works on a cryogenic basis using supercooled, high-energy propellants (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen), will increase payload capacity by two tons to eight tons. For the upper stage ESC-A under development, the tried and tested propulsion system of the third stage of Ariane 4 (cryogenic engine HM-7 engine, oxygen tank and thrust structure) will be used and complemented by a new hydrogen tank. Propellant mass of the upper stage engine will increase from eleven tons (standard Ariane 4 version) to 14 tons. Using tried and tested components will cut production cost distinctly and reduce development time to three years.

Augmentation of Vulcain engine thrust and main stage propellant mass

At the same time, thrust of the main stage engine of Ariane 5 will be improved and main stage propellant mass increased from 155 to 172 tons within the framework of the Ariane 5 E programme:

After jettisoning of the solid-propellant boosters, the Vulcain main-stage engine will be the launcher's sole propulsion for a flight phase of eight minutes. Power of the Vulcain-2 engine will increase by about 30% to 135 tons as compared with the predecessor version. Modifying thrust chamber and turbo pump generated this increase in power. Thanks to the new Ariane 5 upper stage ESC-A and the measures taken to improve the thrust of the main stage, payload capacity of Ariane 5 will increase from about six to up to ten tons. First launch of Ariane SEGA is scheduled for the middle of 2002.

Modification of the current Ariane 5 upper stage including Aestus engine

At the same time, power of the upper stage EPS (Etage Propergols Stockables) of the current Ariane 5 version will be increased as well. Astrium's modification of the propulsion system is intended to allow five re-ignitions of the EPS during a free-flight phase of up to six hours and delivery of satellites to different orbits. Thus, Ariane 5 will be able to meet the requirements of more than 90% of all satellite operators and can be used as a versatile means for "space transport". The so-called Ariane 5 Versatile is scheduled for first launch at the end of 2002.

Development of a new Vehicle Equipment Bay - VEB

Within the Ariane 5 programme, Astrium is responsible for the "brain" of the launch vehicle, the so-called "Vehicle Equipment Bay" (VEB), a control unit, the onboard computers of which will electronically control engine ignition, stage separation and flight control of Ariane 5. For the Ariane 5 Plus programme, Astrium started testing of the three new VEB versions. These versions have been adapted to the new Ariane mission profiles and can thus be used for Ariane 5 "Versatile" and the new cryogenic upper stages.

ESA decision made in November 2001

A decision on the appropriation of the funds required for ESC-B development was made by the Council of ESA ministers under the presidency of the German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Edelgard Bulmahn during their meeting held on 14 and 15 November 2001. Thus, all foreseeable market requirements have been met and competitiveness of Ariane 5 has been secured. The Astrium-developed upper stage ESC-B, which will be ready for operation by 2006, will be equipped with the completely new, re-ignitable cryogenic engine VINCI, with the help of which payload capacity will rise to twelve tons.

Astrium, Europe's leading space company, is a joint company of EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (75%) and BAE SYSTEMS (25%). The Space Infrastructure business division of Astrium develops and operates space laboratories and experiment facilities. The division also develops stages and propulsion systems for the Ariane family of launchers as well as propulsion systems for satellites. In 2001, Astrium Space Infrastructure achieved a turnover of about 700 million EUR with a labour force of 3,000.

Berlin/Bremen, May 2002

Your contact:

Kirsten Leung
Astrium Space Infrastructure
Phone: +49-421-539-5326/ Fax: +49-421-539-4534
e-mail: presse-si@astrium-space.com