Ariane 2
| Company type | Launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | European Space Agency (ESA), CNES |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Fate | Replaced by Ariane 4 |
| Products | Expendable launch vehicle |
| Parent | European Space Agency (ESA) |
Ariane 2 was a European disposable launch vehicle utilized by the European Space Agency (ESA) from 1986 until 1989 as a component of the Ariane lineup. Its construction was primarily undertaken by Aérospatiale, with development overseen by the French space agency, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES).
Approved in July 1979 shortly before the inaugural flight of Ariane 1, Ariane 2 was developed in parallel with the Ariane 3, sharing significant design elements and infrastructure. Rather than replacing Ariane 1, it served to increase payload capabilities to Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The development phase lasted approximately two years, culminating in its maiden launch on 31 May 1986, shortly after the debut of Ariane 3. Its final mission took place on 2 April 1989, during which period the Ariane series established itself as the premier heavy-lift launch system in the commercial sector worldwide.
Development
The European Space Agency was founded in 1973 by eleven member states to foster cooperative space activities. By December 1979, six years later, the first Ariane 1 rocket successfully lifted off from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, positioning Europe as a competitive player against Soviet and American expendable launch systems. Even before Ariane 1 became operational, initiatives were underway to create enhanced variants with greater payload capacity, leading to the conception of Ariane 2 and Ariane 3.
Although initially proposed in 1978, formal approval to proceed with Ariane 2 came in July 1979, with most development work conducted between 1980 and 1982. Targeted to deliver payloads of approximately two tonnes to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), the project was led by France’s CNES and manufactured by Aérospatiale. Despite its sequence number, Ariane 3 was regarded as the direct follow-up to Ariane 1.
To manage expenses effectively, CNES required that only established technologies be incorporated, prohibiting new test programs or production line modifications. The launcher was designed to utilize existing Ariane 1 facilities; however, new tracking stations were installed in the Ivory Coast to accommodate the distinct flight profile of Ariane 2. Enhancements included lengthened third-stage propellant tanks holding about 30% more fuel, increased combustion chamber pressure, a redesigned intertank structure for solid boosters, and an improved propellant mixture.
Ariane 2 shared a close resemblance with Ariane 3; the principal distinction being that Ariane 3 employed solid rocket boosters to achieve higher payload capacity at an elevated cost. Ariane 2 could transport payloads up to to GTO, exceeding the capabilities of Ariane 1.
Launch history
The initial launch of Ariane 2 took place on 31 May 1986, deploying the Intelsat VA F-14 satellite. A partial ignition malfunction in the third stage resulted in engine failure and prompted a halt of all Ariane launches until operations resumed on 16 September 1987. Subsequent investigations led to upgrades featuring more powerful igniters to address this problem. Despite this interruption, the Ariane series maintained excellent reliability records that reduced insurance premiums below those of rival American launch vehicles, thereby strengthening its competitive position internationally throughout the 1980s.
Following the resumption of flights, Ariane 2 achieved five consecutive successful missions, concluding with its last launch on 2 April 1989 which placed Tele-X into orbit. By that time, the Ariane family had already secured leadership in the global commercial launch market. Although effective during its operational tenure, Ariane 2 was soon replaced by the more capable Ariane 4, limiting its total flight count.