Ariane M
Encyclopedia
Ariane M is a hypothesized Europe
an expendable launch system
designed to both place payloads in Low Earth Orbit
and loft large payloads to lunar orbit
.
study. However, it was not developed because of prohibitive costs and doubt over its mission requirements.
. This program calls for an eventual human landing on Mars
, that is targeted for 2030. To achieve such a feat, a heavy launch vehicle is required. Therefore, Ariane M may be required.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an expendable launch system
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
designed to both place payloads in Low Earth Orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
and loft large payloads to lunar orbit
Lunar orbit
In astronomy, lunar orbit refers to the orbit of an object around the Moon.As used in the space program, this refers not to the orbit of the Moon about the Earth, but to orbits by various manned or unmanned spacecraft around the Moon...
.
History
The Ariane M was first hypothesized in 1991 as part of a CNESCNES
The is the French government space agency . Established under President Charles de Gaulle in 1961, its headquarters are located in central Paris and it is under the supervision of the French Ministries of Defence and Research...
study. However, it was not developed because of prohibitive costs and doubt over its mission requirements.
Future
In 2001, the ESA established the Aurora programmeAurora Programme
The Aurora programme is a human spaceflight programme of the European Space Agency established in 2001 with the primary objectives of creating, and then implementing, a European long-term plan for exploration of the Solar System using robotic spacecraft and human spaceflight...
. This program calls for an eventual human landing on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, that is targeted for 2030. To achieve such a feat, a heavy launch vehicle is required. Therefore, Ariane M may be required.
External links
- http://www.astron.nl/p/news/LO/Iranzo_Ariane5_LOFARworkshop.ppt A PDF that outlines the Ariane M on the final page.