Ariane rocket 1979-2009

It was 30 years ago, on 24 December 1979, that the first test flight of the Ariane programme took place, following a failed test a few days earlier. It took off from the Kourou base in Louisiana.

This base has enabled Europe to gain autonomous access to space.

Despite increasingly strong competition from much cheaper rivals like China, Ariane is a commercial success. To date, 193 launches and 238 telecommunications satellites have been placed into orbit, many of them in dual launches. Indeed, Marianne has the unique feature of being able to carry two satellites at once.

As the Americans were not interested in launching commercial satellites, France launched the Ariane programme in 1973. Thanks to the repeated failures of its predecessor, Europa, the Ariane programme was given extraordinary project management by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Alongside institutional launches of scientific and military satellites, commercial launches really began with Ariane 4, whose programme was decided in 1982 at European level. The large Ariane 5 launcher made its debut in 1984.« The key dates are 1984, when France began drawing up a preliminary project; 1987, when Europe decided on the project; 1996, with the first flight.» Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Legall told AFP.

Ariane suffered two failures: one in 1996 and the last during the first launch of the heavy ECA version in 2002. It then consolidated its reputation with 35 consecutive successful launches.
Arianespace is specialized«in the organisation of launches and in the services to satellite operators, while Astrium Space Transportation, a subsidiary of European aerospace and defence group EADS,is the prime contractor for the construction of the launcher.»

Ariane will be the only launcher for large satellites in the next decade. In French Guiana, the European base has expanded and completed its facilities for sending lighter satellites by Russian Soyuz. And by the Italian launcher Vega for smaller satellites.

Although Ariane is more expensive than its rivals, Ariane 5 has a full order book thanks to the quality and reliability of its services.
Launching two satellites at once reduces costs, but it should be remembered that «today's operators are first and foremost financiers».» and it is important that prices remain competitive despite everything.

pennyrce:http://www.france24.com/f