Launchers from Europe’s Spaceport

Modern life is increasingly dependent on services that rely on space-based technologies: global communications, television, weather forecasts and Earth
observation, positioning and navigation systems have become part of our daily lives. These all require reliable, high-performance launch systems.

With the highly successful Ariane launchers, Europe has been able to benefit from independent access to space since 1979. The current versions of Ariane 5 developed by ESA can place several satellites into orbit with the same launch. It lifts payloads of up to 10 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit and nearly 20 tonnes into the low earth orbit of the International Space Station.

Shortly, the ESA-developed small launcher Vega will expand the service provided by Ariane 5, launching satellites of up to 1.5 tonnes into low earth orbit. Furthermore, a new version of the Russian Soyuz launcher is completing the range of launch services offered by Europe’s Spaceport in French Guyana.

Together with national space agencies, ESA is also stimulating the industrial development of new concepts and technologies for the next generation of launchers, in order to guarantee a more competitive access to space
for Europe in the long term.