Ariane 5 main stage

The Ariane 5 main stage, EPC (Cryogenic Main Stage) the Launcher Integration Building (BIL) during the Ariane 503, Advanced Reentry Demonstrator campaign at the European spaceport in French Guiana.

ESA's Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator (ARD) was launched into space and then returned to Earth to test technologies for a return to Earth. It was launched by Ariane 5 on Flight 503, V112 on 21 October 1998. Once in orbit, ARD began its descent, entering the upper atmosphere at a velocity of over 27 000 km/h. Fifteen minutes later, it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. It was equipped with technology that allowed a landing to be performed with unequalled precision at the time.