The Ariane-5 ECA Heavy-Lift Launcher

摘要

Ariane-5 ECA made a flawless qualification flight on 12 February 2005, heralding this version of the launcher's readiness to enter the launch-services market. This major step forward was the result of more than two years of very intense efforts within the framework of the Ariane Recovery Plan, endorsed by the ESA Council on Ministerial Level in May 2003, after the failure of the ECA version's maiden flight in December 2002. The recovery involved ESA, CNES, Arianespace and European Industry in a consolidated effort to establish this launcher as the European launch-services 'workhorse' for many years to come.