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Uprated "10-ton" Ariane 5 Fails

Posted by chrisd on from the boom-boom-boom dept.

Soft writes "The latest version of the European Ariane 5 booster ("ESC-A") has failed on its first launch. Liftoff was good up to booster separation but the core stage shut down one minute afterwards or so. The rocket was supposed to lift ten metric tons (22,000 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit, versus 6.7 for the previous Ariane 5G (and 5 and 5.3 for the latest Atlas 5 and Delta 4). Arianespace planned to retire its other launchers (Ariane 4, Ariane 5G) in favor of Ariane 5 ESC-A. Next launch, of space probe Rosetta, was due in mid-January."

6 of 306 comments (clear)

  1. yet another rocket failure by sebmol · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I wonder if this will have any repercussions on current space missions. Seems like a lot of missions lately have failed.

    --
    "Light is faster than sound." - "Is that why people tend to look bright until you hear them speak?"
    1. Re:yet another rocket failure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

      I have to say it... Imagine a beowulf cluster of these babies...

  2. Re:Why are we picking on thr Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    In Soviet Russia the stats justify you!

  3. Re:Why are we picking on thr Russians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    IN SOVIET RUSSIA,

    BONG HITS ARE LARGE.

    Ok.. I'll shuddap now.

    Ok.. I'll shuddap now.

    Ok.. I'll shuddap now.

    (Had to get past the yell filter)

    (God I feel lame)

  4. In Soviet Russia.... by Phosphor3k · · Score: 1, Redundant

    The Rockets Blow up You!!!

  5. What a stupid name by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 1, Redundant

    What were they thinking ? "ESC-A" ?! Why not name the next one "Ctrl-Alt-Del" ?

    --

    In Soviet America the banks rob you!