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    ESA > Our Activities > Launchers > Launch vehicles

    Ariane 5 Generic

    Main Data Ariane 5G
    Height* 46 to 52 m
    Diameter up to 5.4 m
    Liftoff mass** 746 tonnes
    Payload mass*** 6 tonnes GTO
    9.5 tonnes SSO

    Ariane 5 made its first successful launch on 30 October 1997. Its first operational flight took place in December 1999 when it launched ESA’s X-ray Multi-Mirror (XMM) satellite. Since it became operational Ariane 5 has been used to launch satellites for communications, Earth observation and scientific research.

    In order for Ariane 5 to use Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou ESA built a new launch site as well as facilities to integrate the solid boosters and produce the solid propellant they use.

    Ariane 5 is used for launches into geostationary orbit, medium and low-Earth orbits and sun-synchronous orbits.

    * Double launch

    Last update: 12 May 2004

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