Ariane 5 version
Ariane 5 Ariane 5ECA
The most-flown version of the launcher, with a Vulcain 2 main-stage engine and the ESC-A cryogenic upper stage powered by an HM-7B. It debuted with a failure in December 2002, flew successfully from 2005 and logged 72 missions to 2019.
- December 11, 2002
- First launch
- No
- Reusable
History
Cryogenic evolution
The Ariane 5ECA (Evolution Cryotechnique type A) replaced the Vulcain 1 with a Vulcain 2 whose longer nozzle and denser propellant ratio required lengthening the main-stage tanks. On top sat the ESC-A cryogenic upper stage, 4,540 kg dry, with an HM-7B engine inherited from Ariane 4 burning 14,900 kg of cryogenic propellant. The booster casings were lightened with new welds to carry more propellant.
A failed debut
The first flight, on 11 December 2002, self-destructed three minutes after lift-off when a coolant-line leak overheated the nozzle; the STENTOR and Hot Bird 7 satellites, worth some €630 million, were lost. The investigation delayed the Rosetta launch and forced the stopgap GS version into production. The first success came on 12 February 2005.
Commercial records
From then on the ECA strung together payload records: 8,200 kg in May 2006, 9,535 kg in November 2007, 10,064 kg in April 2011, 10,317 kg in 2013, 10,735 kg in August 2016 and 10,865 kg in June 2017. The late PB+ and PC batches raised maximum GTO capability to 11,115 kg. Its career closed on 26 November 2019 after 72 flights, with one failure and one partial failure — the January 2018 mission whose mis-programmed azimuth sent the vehicle 17° off course and ended a run of 82 consecutive successes.