Ariane 3

Ariane 3
Name	Ariane 3
Function	Expendable launch system
Country	France
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale
Height	49 m
Diameter	3.8 m
Mass	237,000 kg
Payload capacity	2,700 kg
Launch sites	Guiana Space Centre
Total launches	11
Success rate	86%

Ariane 3 was a European expendable launch system developed by Aérospatiale and used for eleven launches between 1984 and 1989. The rocket was designed to carry Intelsat and Spacenet satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The development of Ariane 3 was a collaborative effort between European Space Agency member states, including France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The rocket's success was crucial for the establishment of Europe as a major player in the global launch services market, competing with United States companies like NASA and Lockheed Martin.

Introduction

The Ariane 3 was part of the Ariane rocket family, which was developed to provide a reliable and efficient launch system for European Space Agency missions. The rocket's design was influenced by the Ariane 1 and Ariane 2 models, with improvements made to increase payload capacity and reduce launch costs. The Ariane 3 was also designed to be compatible with a range of payloads, including communications satellites like Intelsat 507 and Spacenet F1. The development of the Ariane 3 was supported by CNES, the French space agency, and involved collaboration with other European Space Agency member states, including Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Design and Development

The Ariane 3 was a three-stage rocket, with a Viking engine powering the first stage and a Viking engine powering the second stage. The third stage was powered by a HM7B engine, which provided the final boost to reach geostationary transfer orbit. The rocket's payload fairing was designed to protect the payload during launch and was jettisoned once the rocket reached space. The Ariane 3 was also equipped with a SYLDA system, which allowed for the launch of two payloads on a single rocket. The development of the Ariane 3 involved collaboration with several companies, including Aérospatiale, Matra, and Société Européenne de Propulsion.

Operational History

The Ariane 3 made its maiden launch on August 4, 1984, carrying the Intelsat 507 and ECS 2 satellites into space. The rocket went on to launch a total of eleven missions, with the final launch taking place on July 12, 1989. The Ariane 3 was used to launch a range of payloads, including communications satellites like Spacenet F1 and Intelsat 509. The rocket also launched several scientific satellites, including the Hipparcos satellite, which was developed by the European Space Agency to study the Milky Way galaxy. The Ariane 3 played an important role in the development of Europe's launch capabilities, paving the way for the introduction of the Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rockets.

Specifications

The Ariane 3 had a height of 49 meters and a diameter of 3.8 meters, with a total mass of 237,000 kilograms. The rocket's payload capacity was 2,700 kilograms to geostationary transfer orbit. The Ariane 3 was powered by a range of engines, including the Viking engine and the HM7B engine. The rocket's guidance system was developed by Matra and used a combination of inertial measurement unit and radio navigation to control the launch trajectory. The Ariane 3 was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, which provided a favorable launch location near the equator.

Launch History

The Ariane 3 made a total of eleven launches between 1984 and 1989, with the majority of launches taking place from the Guiana Space Centre. The rocket's launch history included several notable missions, including the launch of the Hipparcos satellite and the Intelsat 507 satellite. The Ariane 3 also launched several commercial satellites, including the Spacenet F1 and ECS 2 satellites. The rocket's launch history was marked by several successes, but also included one failure, which occurred on September 12, 1985, when the Ariane 3 failed to launch the Intelsat 509 satellite.

Legacy

The Ariane 3 played an important role in the development of Europe's launch capabilities and paved the way for the introduction of the Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 rockets. The rocket's success was crucial for the establishment of Europe as a major player in the global launch services market, competing with United States companies like NASA and Lockheed Martin. The Ariane 3 also contributed to the development of several key technologies, including the Viking engine and the HM7B engine. The rocket's legacy can be seen in the continued success of the Ariane rocket family, which has launched numerous missions for the European Space Agency and other organizations, including CNES, ESA, and NASA.

Category:Spaceflight