59th International Astronautical Congress—Glasgow 2008: Session D2.1.6—Launch vehicles in service or in development, Ariane 5—Program status

While successfully and regularly operating the Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle since 3 years, Arianespace continues to work to improve its Service & Solutions offer following three main axes: a continuous effort towards the improvement of manufacturing and operational processes, the preparation of a new batch order of launch vehicles to industry, and its participation in the preparation of ESA programs that will be proposed to ESA Council meeting at ministerial level in November 2008. While focusing on Ariane 5 activities, the paper will describe how Arianespace is getting ready to operate the European family of launch vehicles.1.Recent flights resultsIn this first part, the paper will describe the results of the Ariane 5 flights performed over the last 12 months. It will address Ariane 5 ECA flights and also the first Ariane 5 ES flight for the European ATV mission. The major launch campaign and flight events will be presented with subsequent discussions.2.Ariane 5 program driversAfter a brief description of the expected launch services demand for the next years, the paper will discuss the Ariane 5 production programs drivers and more specifically:
• the continuous quality improvement process implemented to ensure regular Ariane 5 operations: configuration stabilization, enlargement of the launcher qualification domain, manufacturing and preparation operations review with the objective to smooth operational processes and control the risks and non-conformance number and
• the main characteristics of the next batch order in preparation with the European Industry. Arianespace will order 35 launchers delivered ready for launch in the coming years. It takes into account an increased production rate and the industrialisation process implementation.3.Next stepsIn parallel with the development of Ariane 5 ECA activities, the main challenge for Arianespace for the next years is its transformation as an operator of a family of launchers. The paper will describe the preparation of exploitation of Vega and Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in synergy with Ariane 5.The paper will finally present the Arianespace approach for future European programs expected to be decided for the coming years in Europe.