Ariane 4

Ariane 4

The 52nd Ariane 4 carrying the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite.
Function	Expendable launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale
Country of origin	Europe
Size
Height	58.72 m (192.7 ft)
Diameter	3.8 m (12 ft)
Mass	240,000–470,000 kg (530,000–1,040,000 lb)
Stages	3[1]
Capacity
Payload to LEO[altitude and inclination needed]
Mass	5,000–7,600 kg (11,000–16,800 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass	2,000–4,300 kg (4,400–9,500 lb)
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Kourou, ELA-2
Total launches	116 (40: 7, 42P: 15, 42L: 13) (44P: 15, 44LP: 26, 44L: 40)
Success(es)	113 (40: 7, 42P: 14, 42L: 13) (44P: 15, 44LP: 25, 44L: 39)
Failure(s)	3 (42P: 1, 44L: 1, 44LP: 1)
First flight	40: 22 January 1990 42P: 20 November 1990 42L: 12 May 1993 44P: 4 April 1991 44LP: 15 June 1988 44L: 5 June 1989
Last flight	40: 3 December 1999 42P: 4 May 2002 42L: 23 January 2002 44P: 25 September 2001 44LP: 27 November 2001 44L: 15 February 2003
Boosters (Ariane 42L, 44LP or 44L) – PAL
No. boosters	0, 2 or 4
Powered by	Viking 6
Maximum thrust	752.003 kN (169,057 lbf)
Specific impulse	278 seconds
Burn time	142 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Boosters (Ariane 42P, 44LP or 44P) – PAP
No. boosters	0, 2 or 4
Maximum thrust	650 kN (150,000 lbf)
Burn time	33 seconds
Propellant	CTPB 1613
First stage – L220
Powered by	4 Viking 5C
Maximum thrust	3,034.1 kN (682,100 lbf)
Specific impulse	278 seconds
Burn time	205 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Second stage – L33
Powered by	1 Viking 4B
Maximum thrust	720.965 kN (162,079 lbf)
Specific impulse	296 seconds
Burn time	132 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Third stage – H10
Powered by	1 HM7-B
Maximum thrust	62.703 kN (14,096 lbf)
Specific impulse	446 seconds
Burn time	759 seconds
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

The Ariane 4 was a European expendable launch vehicle, developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). The manufacturing of the launch vehicle was led by Aérospatiale and it was marketed by Arianespace. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the final flight on 15 February 2003, it attained 113 successful launches out of 116 total launches.

In 1982, the Ariane 4 program was approved by ESA. Drawing heavily upon the preceding Ariane 3, it was designed to provide a launcher capable of delivering heavier payloads and at a lower cost per kilogram than the earlier members of the Ariane family. The Ariane 4 was principally an evolution of the existing technologies used, as opposed to being revolutionary in its design ethos; this approach quickly gained the backing of most ESA members, who funded and participated in its development and operation. Capable of being equipped with a wide variety of strap-on boosters, the Ariane 4 gained a reputation for being an extremely versatile launcher.

Once in service, the launcher soon became recognized for being ideal for launching communications and Earth observation satellites, as well as those used for scientific research. During its working life, the Ariane 4 managed to capture 50% of the market in launching commercial satellites, soundly demonstrating Europe's ability to compete in the commercial launch sector.^[2] In February 2003, the final Ariane 4 was launched; Arianespace had decided to retire the type in favour of the newer and larger Ariane 5, which effectively replaced it in service.