European Space Research: Ariane 5 Europe's most reliable commercial payload launcher

Ariane 5 ready for lift off

Ariane 5 is the cornerstone of Europe’s independent access to space. Its reliability, availability and affordability are based on a strategy where a significant part of the exploitation costs is financed through commercial activity.

Ariane 5 is launched six to seven times a year, of which only one or two are for institutional customers.

This strategy has proved to be highly successful for more than 30 years. The successive versions of the first generation of rockets, Ariane 1 to 4, launched half of all the world’s commercial satellites.

Ariane 5 maintains this impressive record, making it one of the most reliable launchers in the world at an affordable price for Europe.

Ariane 5 was a major evolution for the Ariane family. It is more powerful and uses more advanced technologies. Three successive generic versions – Ariane 5G, Ariane 5G+ and Ariane 5GS, are now retired from service.

Read more: Ariane 5 / Launch vehicles / Launchers / Our Activities / ESA