Editing Ariane 5

[[Image:A5_logo1.jpg|right|Ariane 5 blasting off from the pad at Kourou]]

{{Addon|
1=[http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=583 Ariane 5 with ATV (CVEL) at orbithangar.com]|
2=David 'dh219' Henderson
}}

This [[add-on]] simulates three modern '''Ariane 5''' variants. The A5 G (Generic), the A5 ECA (enhanced with cryogenic second stage), and the hybrid A5 ATV (model that will be used to launch the European [[ATV]] ISS resupply craft). Using Thomas Ruth's beautiful free meshes and the [[CVEL|CVE-lite]] programming library, the Ariane 5 is the flagship of the [[CCCP Fleet|CCCP team's]] [[CVEL]] vessel fleet.

==Background==
Ariane 5 is a European heavy-lift launcher that operates out of [[Kourou]] in French Guiana. Capable of inserting up to 10 tonnes into a geostationary transfer orbit, or up to 21 tonnes into 51-degree LEO.

At liftoff, two solid rocket boosters (the EAPs) provide 90% of the thrust for 120 seconds before the central cryogenic stage (EPC), driven by a single French Vulcain or Vulcain-2 engine continues the ascent for approximately a further eight minutes.

The core lofts an upper stage fuelled either by a storable hypergolic propellent (the EPS) or another crogenic fuel (the ESC). restartable a number of times for complicated orbital insertions, including depositing the [[ATV]] into low-Earth orbit, multiple payload GTO insertions and interplanetary ejections or an enhanced for increased GTO payloads.

==The Simulation==
The simulation follows the published Ariane 5 specifications as closely as possible and includes the normal CCCP-fleet features of thrust vectoring, smoke where appropriate and full user-configurable flexibility over payloads thanks to the [[GPDS]] system provided by [[CVEL]].

Additional features include automatic engine throttling for max-Q, an optional automatic initial heading alignment program, non-restartable main stage and calculated centre of mass changes, including those produced by payloads.

==The ATV==
[[Image:Atv6.jpg|thumb|200px|right|ATV docked to ISS over Europe]]
As a bonus several other payload packages are included in the main download, these include Orbiterfan's [[Mars Express]], the Russian [[Fregat]] restartable upper stage, C3PO's orbital fuel tank, but probably most significantly, C3PO's [[ATV]].

The [[ATV]] is Europe's most visible contribution to the [[ISS]]. A 20-tonne Automated Transfer Vehicle intended to rendezvous and dock with the ISS to bring supplies, deorbit waste, provide reboost control and extend the living volume of the station by several cubic metres.

Despite following ESA and Arianespace's released information as closely as possible, many users have found it impossible to orbit the fully-loaded ATV with the default Ariane 5 ATV configuration in the pack, reducing the EPS's fuel load to 30% (PRPLEVEL 2:0.3) on launch seems to provide a more optimal setup.

The ATV has a fair amount of dV available to it, but its acceleration is pitiful. Plan ahead!

== Recommended add-ons == 
[http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=orbmisc&DLID=31333 Kourou Launch Centre]

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[[Category:Add-ons]]
[[Category:Vessel add-ons]]
[[category:realistic add-ons]]
[[Category:CVEL Vessels]]
[[Category:Add-ons by David Henderson]]