News
30 years of Ariane…. with SABCA !
Dec 2009
The first launch of the Ariane rocket occurred on December 24, 1979… 30 years ago ! That day marked the beginning of a long success story, and SABCA was already on board.
In fact, the development work on the Ariane 1 model started at SABCA around 1974. Our company had received the responsibility for several structural elements (fairings and fins) as well as for the servo-actuators and associated devices that steered the launcher in the desired direction by swinging the nozzles. These developments were a true challenge that was met by SABCA’s design and production teams with enthusiasm and professionalism.
The collaboration of SABCA with the Ariane community grew with the many evolutions of the original model : Ariane 2 and 3 came, and later the powerful Ariane 4, a true workhorse that safely launched numerous satellites into orbit. For that specific version, SABCA developed and built large structural skirts for the liquid fuel side boosters, together with the technical evolutions of the previous elements.
Ariane 4 continued its remarkable career until 2002, with the 144-th launch of the original family. The time had come for a completely new and much more powerful launcher. Ariane 5 was born, and SABCA took again a major role in its development. SABCA’s responsibility comprises very large, stiff and complex structures (JAR/JAV) for the side boosters, combined with a unique damping system that protects the satellites from the vibrations of the engines. These structures are completely equipped with electrical cables and pyrotechnical devices in our subsidiary SABCA LIMBURG before being transported to the launch site in Kourou, French Guyana.
Our Engineering also designed and qualified the complete steering system for all stages (GAM / GAT / GHSM) of the launcher, as well as various smaller devices at several locations on the rocket. State of the art technologies (5000 psi operating pressure, advanced electronic control…) have been introduced for these very powerful actuators, boosting the know-how of the company and comforting its #1 position in Europe for space launcher steering.
The first Ariane 5 was launched in 1996. Several technical enhancements have since then improved its capabilities and, in spite of a difficult start, the type has become the world leader in launching telecommunication satellites.
Ariane 5 represents today around 30 % of SABCA’s turnover. The experience built with Ariane opened the way to a participation in the new small European launcher Vega that will take-off in a year from today. And, looking to the future, SABCA is preparing itself for the next generation of launchers, Ariane 6.
The Ariane story is a great European adventure… and SABCA is proud to be part of it !
SABCA is a leading Belgian Aerospace company since 89 years, employing 1000 highly trained persons. SABCA is active in civil aircraft design and manufacture (Airbus, Dassault), military aircraft overhaul and upgrades (F16, F5, Mirage, helicopters, etc…) as well as in space programs (Ariane and Vega). These activities cover structural work as well as Thrust Vectoring Control systems and systems integration. SABCA has plants in Brussels and Charleroi, and a fully owned subsidiary SABCA LIMBURG specialized in aerospace composites.
For more information, write to:
Marketing & Sales Director SABCA
Fax +32 2 729 5896 or sales@sabca.be
