New cryogenic Ariane 5 upper stage flies "Beluga"
Bremen, 28 February 2001
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Structural test model to be tested at IABG
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Proven Ariane 4 components to reduce development time
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Ariane 5 only competitive through consistent evolution
Carrying unusual cargo, the "Beluga", the transport aircraft of Airbus Industries, took off from Bremen Airport to Munich on Wednesday. Onboard was the structural test model of the new Ariane 5 upper stage ESC-A, which was developed by the Space Infrastructure business division of Astrium. "Delivery of this first structural test model will be another milestone in the Ariane 5 Plus program," said Dr. Jens Lassmann, ESC-A Project Manager of the Space Infrastructure business division. After landing at Franz-Josef Strauss Airport in Munich, the upper stage will be carried by truck to IABG mbH (Industrieanlagen - Betriebsgesellschaft) where it will undergo mechanical qualification testing until January 2002. IABG is one of the leading aerospace test centers in Europe.
Within the Ariane 5 Plus program to improve performance of the European Ariane 5 launcher system, Astrium will develop the new upper stage ESC-A (Etage Superieur Cryotechnique A) until the middle of 2002. Based on cryogenic propulsion technology, this stage will use supercooled, high-energy propellants (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen). Payload capacity of Ariane 5 will thus increase from six to up to ten tons.
However, before building the real flight hardware, two test models will be made which exactly correspond to the flight unit as regards mechanical features and functions. The entire mechanical testing will be carried out on the structural test model delivered today. Under contract to Astrium, IABG will particularly carry out vibration, sound and separation tests in Ottobrunn near Munich. During these tests, the upper stage will be exposed to loads exceeding reality by far. In a further test phase, the second model will be used to qualify the interplay between upper stage and ground facilities at the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Thanks to the use of proven components, it will take only 3.5 years to develop the new upper stage ESC-A of Ariane 5. The propulsion system of the third stage of Ariane 4 including the cryogenic engine of type HM-7 will be integrated into the upper stage of Ariane 5. Oxygen tank and thrust structure will also be used, complemented by a new hydrogen tank and the interface structure to the lower stage of Ariane 5. In comparison to the present upper stage from Bremen (EPS), performance will increase from 30 to 65 kN (which corresponds to 180,000 hp). The development contract covers a volume of almost 160 million euro and will involve about 100 jobs at Astrium's location in Bremen.
According to Astrium, only consistent evolution of the Ariane 5 will allow the launcher to remain competitive in the market and to keep its 60-percent share in commercial satellite transportation.
Your contact:
Mrs. Kirsten Leung
Astrium Space Infrastructure
Phone:: 0421-539-5326 / Fax: 0421-539-4534
Website: www.Astrium-Space.com
