Ariane 5 GS

Specification

As listed by Launch Library 2. The cost is Launch Library’s figure, not a quoted price. Figures for rockets outside the sixty most-flown were last read on 2026-11-05.

Flight record

About Ariane 5 GS

At the time of the failure of the first Ariane 5 ECA flight in 2002, all Ariane 5 launchers in production were ECA versions. Some of the ECA cores were modified to use the original Vulcain engine and tank volumes while the failure was investigated; these vehicles were designated Ariane 5 GS. The GS used the improved EAP boosters of the ECA variant and the improved EPS of the G+ variant, but the increased mass of the modified ECA core compared to the G and G+ core resulted in slightly reduced payload capacity. Ariane 5 GS could carry a single payload of 6,600 kg (14,600 lb) or a dual payload of 5,800 kg (12,800 lb) to GTO. The Ariane 5 GS flew 6 times from 2005 to 2009 with no failures.

Upcoming flights

Ariane 5 GS in the archive

From NASA's public image library and Wikimedia Commons. Each photo shows the credit its licence asks for and links back to where it came from.

Common questions

How many times has Ariane 5 GS flown?

6 times, with 6 successes and 0 failures.

What is Ariane 5 GS's success rate?

100.0%. That's 6 successful flights out of 6 attempts.

How much can Ariane 5 GS lift to orbit?

Launch Library 2 lists Ariane 5 GS at no figure to low Earth orbit and 6,600 kg to geostationary transfer orbit.

Is Ariane 5 GS reusable?

No. Launch Library 2 lists Ariane 5 GS as expendable, so no stage is recovered to fly again.