Ariane 5 Mid-Life Evolution Launch Facilities Development And Qualification

Abstract

The launchers ground facilities represent a key element in a launch system, since their reliability, availability and effectiveness significantly contribute to the success and to the performances of a launch system. Beyond the need to comply with the vehicle interface specifications, in a global context where the financial considerations are key factors, it becomes necessary to take into account since the earliest stages of a launch system project both the development and operating costs, driven by relevant trade-offs and choices on the ground segment and operational concept. Furthermore, when a new launch vehicle development has to be performed atop an existing infrastructure, severe additional constraints occur since the new activities shall not interfere significantly with the ongoing operational phase in exploitation. This paper intends to give a general overview of existing Ariane 5 integration and launch facilities, located at the Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, focusing on the development and qualification activities which will be needed for Ariane 5 ME (Mid-life Evolution) vehicle. In particular, this vehicle will be characterized by a new versatile upper stage, with an expander cycle re-ignitable engine (VINCI). The target for A5 ME ground segment target will bet to comply with the LV specifications, to simplify the LV/ground segment interfaces and operations and to contribute to the reduction of operational recurrent costs. Its challenge will be to be developed and qualified on the basis of an existing infrastructure, fully operational and heavily loaded in launch campaigns, while allowing the continuation of such operational activity, including the bi-compatibility of the present and new vehicle during the future transition phase and the present vehicle phasing-out. Nomenclature Some acronyms being derived from previous French abbreviations, the list might present the translated English meaning, and the original French acronym in parenthesis. A5 ES Ariane 5 with EPS storable propellant upper stage A5 ECA Ariane 5 with ESC-A cryogenic upper stage based on HM7-B engine A5 ME Ariane 5 Mid-life Evolution ATV Automated Transfer Vehicle BIL Launcher Integration building (Bâtiment d’Integration Lanceur) BAF Final Assembly Building (Bâtiment d’Assemblage Final) CNES French Space Agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) EAP Ariane5 Solid Propellant Booster (Etage d’Acceleration a Poudre) ELA3 Ensemble Lancement Ariane n°3 – Ariane Launch pad n°3 EPC Ariane 5 main cryogenic stage (Etage Principal Cryotechnique) SpaceOps 2010 Conference Delivering on the Dream Hosted by NASA Mars 25 30 April 2010, Huntsville, Alabama AIAA 2010-2214 Copyright © 2010 by Copyrights 2010 by CNES and ESA. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission. 2 Copyrights 2010 by CNES and ESA EPS Storable Propellant Stage (Etage a Propergols Stockables) ESA European Space Agency ESC Cryogenic Upper Stage ESCA Cryogenic Upper Stage version A (Etage Superieur Cryogenique – version A) GEO Geostationary Earth Orbit GTO Geostationary Transfer Orbit LEO Low Earth Orbit LV Launch Vehicle MC Ministerial Council MEO Medium Earth Orbit POC Combined Operation Plan (Plan d’Operation Combine) SEL Electrical System and Software (Systeme Electrique et Logiciels) SSCR Stage and System Concept Review SSPDR Stage and System Preliminary Design Review SYLDA Dual Launch System RSL Repetition Systeme Lanceur – Launch System Rehearsal