Ariane 5 ME

* dual-satellite launch
 ** into GTO

To maintain the competitiveness of Ariane 5 in the commercial market, ESA is preparing a more powerful and versatile version: Ariane 5 ME (Mid-life Evolution). This vehicle will respond to the need for heavier payloads and reignition capabilities for complex missions, such as planetary exploration.

This modernised version will replace both Ariane 5 ECA and Ariane 5 ES within this decade.

Ariane 5 ME missions

A number of new versatile cryogenic upper stage concepts have been assessed. The improved key performance and capability comes from the use of a new engine, Vinci, with a thrust of 18.3 t. It uses advanced technologies, such as an expander cycle and a deployable nozzle.

This evolution will allow Ariane 5 ME to handle a wider range of missions:

• Upper stage reignition allows to inject satellites in a higher orbit (GTO+: Supersynchronous orbit), which reduces the payload's propulsion needs to reach the target orbit and maximises the launcher's performance.
• Versatility opens the door to a wide range of combinations and pairing of different types of institutional missions, such as Earth-escape, GTO-escape, GEO and Moon or Mars missions, with improved precision and performance.
• The guaranteed deorbiting and/or injection into graveyard orbits will keep the space environment free of debris.

Ariane 5 ME elements

Ariane 5 ME consists of three parts.

1. Lower composite (EAP and EPC)

The lower composite is identical to that used on Ariane 5 ECA. It comprises two solid-propellant boosters (EAP: Etage d’Accélération à Poudre) and the cryogenic main stage (EPC: Etage Principal Cryotechnique), equipped with the Vulcain 2 engine.

2. Upper composite (Vinci, VEB and supporting structure)

The upper composite comprises:

• The new cryogenic upper stage containing 28 t of propellant (liquid hydrogen and oxygen) with the Vinci new-technology engine, providing 18.3 t of thrust and reignition capability;
• The Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB), ‘the brain’, autonomously controls the whole vehicle, better integrated in the upper stage structure;
• The new supporting structure (1780 mm diameter) interfacing with the payload.

3. Launcher upper part (fairing and Sylda 5)

The launcher upper part comprises:

• The new, longer fairing protects the payload at liftoff and during the atmospheric flight phase (5.4 m diameter, 20 m high). The fairing is split into two pyrotechnically and discarded more than 3 min into the flight, at an altitude above 100 km.
• The new structure accommodating the lower and upper satellites, Sylda 5 (Système de Lancement Double Ariane 5): 4.6 m diameter, 8 m high.

Ariane 5 ME debut

The qualification flight of this modernised version of Ariane 5 is scheduled for 2016, followed by a gradual introduction into exploitation.

Ariane 5 ME will replace Ariane 5 ECA and Ariane 5 ES and will become Europe’s new workhorse launcher.