ESA (European Space Agency), is an agency formed by 22 countries whose purpose is the development and exploration of space technologies. The agency has developed both rockets, numerous scientific missions that have had an enormous impact on scientific exploration and space observing telescopes all around the world. It works in close partnerships with other agencies like Roscosmos (Russia) or NASA (USA) to develop new missions and endeavours to advance the scientific knowledge of our Earth, Solar System and Universe. It has a budget of around 7,5 Billion USD. It was created in 1975.

Headquarters: Paris France

Launch Sites: Kourou, French Guyana.

Rockets

Ariane IV

Overview (Ariane IV)

The Ariane IV rocket was developed and manufactured by Arianespace with the help of ESA. It was an expendable rocket that was in service from 1988 until 2003. It became a major player in the satellite launch business, getting 50% of the launches and demonstrating that Europe had the capability to break into the satellite business.

Data (Ariane IV)

Height: 58.72 m

Diameter: 3.8 m

Stages: 2

LEO: 7,600 kg

GTO: 4,300 kg

First Launch: June 15 1982

Last Launch: February 15 2003

Launches: 116

Successes: 113

Failures: 3

Success Rate: 97.4%

Reusability: None

Boosters

Number: 0-2-4

Engine: Viking 6

Thrust: 752 kN

Specific Impulse: 278 seconds

Burn Time: 142 s

Fuel: N₂O₄ / UDMH

First Stage

Engine: Viking 5C

Engine Number: 4

Thrust (Sea Level): 3,034 kN

Burn Time: 205 s

Specific Impulse: 278 s

Fuel: N₂O₄ / UDMH

Second Stage

Engine: Viking 4B

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (vacuum): 720 kN

Burn Time: 132 s

Specific Impulse: 296 s

Fuel: N₂O₄ / UDMH

Third Stage

Engine: HM7-B

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (Sea Level): 62 kN

Burn Time: 759 s

Specific Impulse: 446 s

Fuel: LH₂ / LOX

Ariane V

Overview (Ariane V)

The Ariane V is an active rocket developed by Arianespace and ESA launched in the Guiana Spaceport and used in order to send heavy satellites and experiments into orbit.

Data (Ariane V)

Height: 52 m

Diameter: 5.4 m

Stages: 2

LEO: 16,000 kg

GTO: 10,865 kg

First Launch: June 4 1996

Launches: 108

Successes: 103

Partial Failures: 3

Failures: 2

Success Rate: 95.3%

Reusability: None

Boosters

Number: 2

Engine: P241

Thrust: 7,080 kN (1,590,000 IbF) each

Burn Time: 140 s

Height: 31.6 m

Diameter: 3,06 m

Fuel: HTPB

First Stage

Engine: Vulcain 2

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (Sea Level): 960 kN (sea level)

Burn Time: 540 s

Specific Impulse: 310 s (sea level)

Height: 23.8 m

Diameter: 5.4 m

Fuel: LH₂ (liquid hydrogen), LOX (Liquid Oxygen)

Second Stage

Engine: HM7B

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (vacuum): 67 kN

Burn Time: 945 s

Specific Impulse: 446 s

Fuel: LH₂ (liquid hydrogen), LOX (Liquid Oxygen)

Launch Cost: 165-220 Million $

Ariane VI

Overview (Ariane VI)

The Ariane VI is a rocket in development by Arianespace and ESA. It will be a heavy satellite launcher and partially reusable. It is expected to launch for the first time in 2021. It will replace the Ariane V, offering a more powerful and cheaper launch option.

Data (Ariane VI)

Height: 63 m

Diameter: 5.4 m

Stages: 2

LEO: 21,650 kg

GTO: 11,500 kg

Boosters

Number: 2 - 4

Engine: P120

Thrust: 4,500 kN (1,000,000 IbF) each

Diameter: 3 m

First Stage

Engine: Vulcain 2.1

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (Sea Level): 1,370 kN (sea level)

Diameter: 5.4 m

Fuel: LH₂ (liquid hydrogen), LOX (Liquid Oxygen)

Second Stage

Engine: Vinci

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (vacuum): 180 kN

Fuel: LH₂ (liquid hydrogen), LOX (Liquid Oxygen)

Vega

Overview (Vega)

This is a rocket developed by Arianespace, the Italian Space Agency and European Space Agency. It is launched from the Guiana Spaceport and was launched for the first time in 2012. It is a small satellite launcher for Earth observing scientific missions.

Data (Vega)

Height: 30 m

Diameter: 3 m

Stages: 4

Mass: 137,000 kg

Polar: 1,430 kg

SSO: 1,450 kg

First Launch: June 4 1996

Launches: 15

Successes: 14

Failures: 1

Success Rate: 93.3%

Reusability: None

First Stage

Engine: P80

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (Sea Level): 2,261 kN (sea level)

Burn Time: 110 s

Specific Impulse: 280 s (sea level)

Height: 11.7 m

Diameter: 3 m

Fuel: HTPB

Second Stage

Engine: Zefiro 23

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (vacuum): 871 kN

Burn Time: 77 s

Specific Impulse: 287 s

Height: 8.39 m

Diameter: 1.9 m

Fuel: HTPB

Third Stage

Engine: Zefiro 9

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (vacuum): 260 kN

Burn Time: 120 s

Specific Impulse: 296 s

Height: 4.12 m

Diameter: 1.9 m

Weight: 11,815 kg

Fuel: HTPB

Fourth Stage

Engine: RD-843 (AVUM)

Engine Number: 1

Thrust (vacuum): 2,42 kN

Burn Time: 667 s

Specific Impulse: 315 s

Height: 1.7 m

Diameter: 1.9 m

Weight: 697 kg

Fuel: UDMH / N₂O₄

Launch Cost: 37Million $

Rockets

Ariane IV

Overview (Ariane IV)

Data (Ariane IV)

Ariane V

Overview (Ariane V)

Data (Ariane V)

Ariane VI

Overview (Ariane VI)

Data (Ariane VI)

Vega

Overview (Vega)

Data (Vega)

Missions