EADS Astrium has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a new, more powerful version of the Ariane 5 rocket.
The contract for the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution program is worth E150m over two years. It aims to raise the payload…
EADS Astrium has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a new, more powerful version of the Ariane 5 rocket.
The contract for the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution program is worth E150m over two years. It aims to raise the payload capacity of the Ariane 5 ECA by 20%, from 10 tonnes to 12 tonnes.
Astrium’s Space Transportation unit will achieve this through the design of a new upper stage for the launch vehicle. It will utilise a new Vinci re-ignitable engine, which will allow more accurately optimised orbital insertions, thus prolonging the service lives of the satellites the rocket will carry.
Astrium will also update the rocket’s avionics and flight software, and generally offer improved reliability and safety.
