Information AboutAriane 4 |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ARIANE 4 | |
| space launch vehicles | |
| european space agency | |
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Ariane 4 was an Expendable Launch System , designed by the European Space Agency and manufactured and marketed by its subsidiary Arianespace . The development program began in 1983 and the first successful launch was on 15 June 1988 . The system has become the basis for European Satellite launch with a stellar record of 104 successful missions and only three launch failures. Ariane 4 provided a payload increase from 1700 kg for Ariane 3 to a maximum of 4800 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). The record for Ariane 4 to GTO was 4946 kg. The rocket was used in a number of variants - it could be fitted with two or four additional Solid or liquid fuelled Booster Rocket s. The launcher included a satellite payload carrier system called ''Spelda'' (Structure Porteuse Externe pour Lancements Doubles Ariane) for launching more than one satellite at a time. Ariane 4 AR 40 was the basic version, with three stages: 58.4 m high, a diameter of 3.8 m, a liftoff mass of 245 t and a maximum payload of 2100 kg to GTO or 5000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Main power was from four Viking 5 motors each producing 667 kN of thrust; the second stage had a single Viking motor; and the third stage had an HM7 liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen motor. AR 44L, with the maximum additional boost of four liquid fuel rocket strap-ons, was four-stage, weighed 470 t and could transfer a payload of 4730 kg to GTO or 7600 kg to LEO.
Ariane 4 has accomplished more than 100 flights with a success rate of more than 96%. Ariane 4 was phased out in favour of Ariane 5 , which can carry heavier payloads. The final launch was on 15 February , 2003 , placing Intelsat 907 into Geosynchronous Orbit . |
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