Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs Stratégiques & Spatiaux, industrial architect for Ariane 5 has received an order from Arianespace for 20 additional Ariane 5's. After the 2 development vehicles and the first series of 14 launchers (P-1), this brings the total number of Ariane 5's ordered to date to 36.
Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs Stratégiques & Spatiaux, industrial architect for the Ariane 5 vehicle, designs and produces the flight software, and is prime contractor for the stages of Ariane 5's lower section: the main cryogenic stage (EPC), and the two solid booster stages (EAP). The EPC is built in Les Mureaux near Paris, and the EAP's are built in French Guiana.
This order, called "P2", covers the delivery of two series of 10 Ariane 5's with a global prospect for 50 launchers. The first of the P2 series will be ready for launch at the end of 2001. Deliveries will continue till the beginning of 2004.
The P2 series vehicles of two types :
**Ariane 5 E/CA, designed for dual launch missions placing 10 metric tons into geostationary transfer orbit. This version incorporates the improvements of the lower section of the vehicle and the equipment bay planned in the Ariane 5 Evolution program (A5E). It will use a cryogenic upper stage (ESC-A).based on the third stage of Ariane 4 **Ariane 5 E/S and S-V, designed for various missions (constellations, direct injection into intermediary orbits, dual GTO/GTO+ launches). This version incorporates the same improvements of the lower section and the equipment bay, but uses the "Versatile" upper state EPS, which is re-ignitable and uses conventional propellants.
Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs Stratégiques & Spatiaux is fully engaged in the efforts for cost reductions which enable Ariane 5 to remain competitive against stronger world competition. In addition to cost reductions, the trend towards heavier satellites in GTO continues. These new versions with significantly increased performance compared that of to the basic Ariane 5, will be operational by 2001.
Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs Stratégiques & Spatiaux thus accomplishes a dual challenge: cost reduction and increased performance, enabling Europe to maintain its leading market share in the launch industry.
Europe's industrial leader for civil and military space transportation, Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs Stratégiques & Spatiaux is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Aerospatiale Matra group, whose revenues in 1998 amounted to 80.6 billion francs, placing it second in Europe, and fifth in the world in the aerospace and defense sector.
