Overview | Ariane 1-3 | Ariane 4 | Milestones

Launch services

Ariane 1

• Maiden flight: December 24, 1979
• Number of missions: 11
  
  

Ariane 2

• First successful flight: November 21, 1987
• Number of missions: 6

Ariane 3

• Maiden flight: August 4, 1984
• Number of missions: 11

Ariane 4

• Maiden flight: June 15, 1988
• Number of missions: 116

Ariane heritage > Ariane 4

The Ariane 4 family was the workhorse of the commercial launch services industry during its service career from 1988 to 2003.

Using a "building block" approach, six Ariane versions were available – all of which were based on the same core three-stage vehicle.

Ariane 4 was the result of Europe's accurate forecasting of the future growth of satellite payload weight and size. To meet the predicted market needs, the flexible family approach was adopted.

The Ariane 4 family's payload lift performance to geostationary transfer orbit ranged from 2,000 kg. to 4,900 kg.

The Spaceport's ELA-2 launch complex supported the Ariane 4 vehicle family's fast-paced launch schedule from its service entry in 1986 through the final Ariane 4 mission in 2003.

The complex consised of two areas: the launcher preparation zone and the launch zone. These two areas were separated, allowing one launcher to undergo final checkout and payload integration in the launch zone while a second was being assembled in the launcher preparation zone.

ELA-2 was designed for approximately 10-11 launches per year with an interval of one month between successive missions. To meet commercial demand, Arianespace maintained a high operational mission rate throughout the Ariane 4 program.

At a Glance

Payloads