Editing Ariane 5 (section)

==== Development ====
Originally known as the Ariane 5'''ECB''', Ariane 5ME was to have its first flight in 2006. However, the failure of the first ECA flight in 2002, combined with a deteriorating satellite industry, caused ESA to cancel development in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/esa-cancels-plans-for-uprated-ariane-5-ecb-160882/|title=ESA cancels plans for uprated Ariane 5 ECB|access-date=27 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730171835/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/esa-cancels-plans-for-uprated-ariane-5-ecb-160882/|archive-date=30 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Development of the Vinci engine continued, though at a lower pace. The ESA Council of Ministers agreed to fund development of the new upper stage in November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dlr.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1/86_read-14434/|title=ESA's Council of Ministers decides the future of European space exploration|access-date=27 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120013953/http://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10002/|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, [[EADS Astrium]] was awarded a €200 million contract,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/21ariane/|title=ESA signs contract for Ariane 5 rocket enhancements|access-date=22 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225120206/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/21ariane/|archive-date=25 December 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and on 10 April 2012 received another €112 million contract to continue development of the Ariane 5ME <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacenews.com/launch/120410-astrium-contract-ariane5.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202194628/http://www.spacenews.com/launch/120410-astrium-contract-ariane5.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2013|title=ESA Gives Astrium US$150 million To Continue Ariane 5ME Work|publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref> with total development effort expected to cost €1 billion.<ref name=parabolicarc-ariane5-cost>{{cite web|last=Messier|first=Dough|title=ESA Faces Large Cost for Ariane 5 Upgrade|date=18 January 2014|url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/01/18/esa-faces-large-cost-ariane-5-upgrade-ariane-6-rocket/|publisher=Parabolic Arc|access-date=9 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505235200/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/01/18/esa-faces-large-cost-ariane-5-upgrade-ariane-6-rocket/|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 November 2012, ESA agreed to continue with the Ariane 5ME to meet the challenge of lower priced competitors. It was agreed the Vinci upper stage would also be used as the second stage of a new Ariane 6, and further commonality would be sought.<ref name=sfn-20121121/> Ariane 5ME qualification flight was scheduled for mid-2018, followed by gradual introduction into service.<ref name="AdaptedME"/>

On 2 December 2014, ESA decided to stop funding the development of Ariane 5ME and instead focus on Ariane 6, which was expected to have a lower cost per launch and allow more flexibility in the payloads (using two or four P120C solid boosters depending on total payload mass).<ref name=slr20141203>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/ariane6.html|title=Ariane 6|publisher=Space Launch Report|first1=Ed |last1=Kyle|date=3 December 2014|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530225452/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/ariane6.html|archive-date=30 May 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref>