Abstract :
AS I WATCH the thundering Ariane 5 rocket arc across the darkening tropical sky in a familiar battle against Earth???s restraining gravity, I cannot help but be impressed. The arcane knowledge that turbopumps are forcing cryogenic propellants into a seething cauldron of a combustion chamber developing 138 tonnes of raw thrust does little to detract from the excitement of seeing Newton???s First Law in such demonstrative action. Following the rocket plume as it moves out of the Earth???s shadow, and back into the sunlight that only minutes before had illuminated the launch site, I???m struck that this is a common occurrence here at the Guiana Space Centre. Since its inaugural flight in 1996,the Ariane 5 has launched 76 times and chalked up 62 consecutive successful flights deploying 100 satellites. In fact, the Ariane family as a whole has conducted some 220 missions since its introduction in December 1979.
