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Ariane 5 rocket launch explosion

The first launch of the Ariane 5 rocket launch ended spectacularly with a malfunction seconds after lift off that resulted in the destruction of the vehicle.

Cluster (spacecraft) - Wikipedia

European satellite constellation studying Earth's magnetosphere; cornerstone mission in the ESA Science Programme; failed upon launch Cluster was a constellation of four European Space Agency spacecraft which were launched on the maiden flight of the Ariane 5 rocket, Flight 501, and subsequently lo...

Cluster

Overview

Destination: High Earth Orbit
Mission: Earth Science

High Earth Orbit Ariane Launch Area 3 Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

A constellation of four ESA spacecraft. These were intended to fly in a tetrahedral formation, and was inteded to conduct research into the Earth's magnetosphere.

Ariane 5 G

Family:
Configuration: G

The original version is dubbed Ariane 5 G (Generic) and had a launch mass of 737 tonnes. Its payload capability to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) was 6,900 kg (15,200 lb) for a single satellite or 6,100 kg (13,400 lb) for dual launches. It flew 17 times with one failure and two partial failures.

Specifications
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    57.0 m
  • Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.4 m
  • Launch Mass
    737.0 T
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Ariane 5 G
  • Family
  • Variant
    G
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Ariane 5 G
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    12200.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    6900.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

ArianeGroup

ArianeGroup

(AG)

CEO: Martin Sion Founded: 2015 Successes: 0 Failures: 0 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

ArianeGroup (formerly Airbus Safran Launchers) is an aerospace company based in France. A joint venture between Airbus and Safran, the company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux. It consists of three core arms: aerospace, defence and security.

INFO WIKI

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Cluster reentry explained: world's first targeted reentry

The first of four satellites that make up ESA’s Cluster mission is coming safely back down to Earth, marking a brilliant end to this remarkable mission.

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Goodnight, Cluster: brilliant end to trailblazing mission

The first satellite in ESA’s Cluster quartet safely came back down to Earth last night in a world-first ‘targeted reentry’, marking a brilliant end to this remarkable mission.

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

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