Ariane 5G

Ariane 5 Generic

Mission Profile

The Ariane 5G (Ariane 5 Generic) was a two-stage European launch vehicle and the initial production variant of the Ariane 5 family, designed to deliver heavy payloads to geostationary transfer orbit. Standing 52 m tall with a 5.4 m diameter and a liftoff mass of 746 tonnes, it generated 12,940 kN of liftoff thrust and could deliver 16,000 kg to low Earth orbit or 6,800 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. First flying in June 1996, the Ariane 5G established Europe's heavy-lift launch capability, though its maiden flight ended in failure before the vehicle went on to a highly successful career.