Ariane Utilization for Secondary Payloads

In preparing for the future, the European Space Agency (ESA) has identified a growing shortage of flight opportunities for secondary payloads. This was most directly felt in the execution of the In-Orbit Technology Demonstration Programme (TOP), which is aimed at the demonstration of new technologies in orbit, before their application in projects, thereby reducing the overall risk. The TOP took a lead in investigating the possibility of using the European heavy lift launcher Ariane-IV as a low cost secondary payload carrier, not only for technological, but also for scientific and educational experiments. The secondary payloads were in the form of attached platforms, and small satellites. This paper gives a detailed account of the efforts, which resulted in firm plans to establish a secondary payload capability on the Ariane-IV. Also, an overview of the technical implementation is given