Ariane 5 ECA

Ariane 5 Evolution Cryotechnique type A A5ECA

Mission Profile

The Ariane 5 ECA (Ariane 5 Evolution Cryotechnique type A, A5ECA) was a two-stage European heavy-lift launch vehicle in the Ariane family, the definitive production variant with a cryogenic upper stage for maximum geostationary transfer orbit performance. Standing 53 m tall with a 5.4 m core diameter and a liftoff mass of 780 tonnes, it generated 14,360 kN of liftoff thrust and could deliver 21,000 kg to low Earth orbit or 10,500 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. First flying in December 2002, the Ariane 5 ECA became the world's leading commercial heavy-lift launcher, dominating the dual-satellite GTO market for two decades before being retired in favour of Ariane 6.