European Space Agency Launchers - Ariane
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman - Continuing Education |
| Discipline(s): |
Aerospace Engineering |
| Special Topic(s): |
History of Technology |
| Learning Resource Type: | Reference - Article/Document |
| Media Type: | WWW |
| Author(s): | European Space Agency |
| Description: | "When the European Space Agency came into being in 1975 one of its first objectives was to build a European launcher. The reason is simple: no launcher - no independant access to space - no space programme. Work on the first Ariane launcher began as early as 1974 using the then new technology of combining liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The first flight was scheduled for 15 December 1979. On that eventful day, in front of a large and expectant audience, countdown started and the motor underneath the launcher lit - and then went out. Fortunately the fault was not serious and the launch was rescheduled for 23 December, but then bad weather and a few small problems led to yet another delay. The next attempt proved to be third time lucky. On 24 December, at 14:14 hours local time, Ariane 1 blasted into space from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Europe’s independent adventure in space had begun. " |
| Rating: |
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| Related Resources | |
| Keywords: | ariane rocket |
| Usage Tip | |
| Use of Resource: | Interesting case showing how France and European collaboration competed on rocket design and delivery. |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Interactivity Level: | Low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | November 2007 |
| Platform/Format: | WWW |
| Cost: | Free |
| Download URL: | http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Home/SEMD5E67ESD_0.html |
| Metadata: | IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
NEEDS
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