Design and production of composite structures for Ariane launchers
Composite structures for the Ariane launcher

Figure 1 shows the evolution of Ariane launchers in terms of size, launch mass and performance (payload mass that the launcher is capable of placing into a defined orbit, in this case the GTO 200/36,000 km elliptical transfer orbit –inclination 7).

These launchers are made up of three propulsion stages, an equipment bay forming the brain of the launcher, and the upper part which is actually the payload bay in which the satellites are protected, supported in flight and released into orbit. From Ariane 3 onwards, solid propellant boosters have been added to the first stage. For Ariane 4, solid and/or liquid propellant boosters can be added.