Editing Ariane 5 (section)

=== Solid propellant stage ===
Work on the Ariane 5 EAP motors was continued in the [[Vega (launcher)|Vega]] programme. The Vega 1st stage engine – the [[P80 (stage)|P80]] engine – was a shorter derivation of the EAP.<ref name="ESPPhandbook">{{cite book|title=European Space Policy and Programs Handbook|first1=Usa Ibp|last1=Usa|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|year=2010|isbn=9781433015328|page=29}}</ref> The P80 booster casing was made of filament wound graphite epoxy, much lighter than the current stainless steel casing. A new composite steerable nozzle was developed while new thermal insulation material and a narrower throat improved the expansion ratio and subsequently the overall performance. Additionally, the nozzle had electromechanical actuators which replaced the heavier hydraulic ones used for thrust vector control.

These developments could maybe have made their way back into the Ariane programme, but this was most likely an inference based on early blueprints of the Ariane 6 having a central P80 booster and 2-4 around the main one.<ref name=sfn-20121121>{{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1211/21ariane/ |title=European ministers decide to stick with Ariane 5, for now|author=Stephen Clark|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=21 November 2012|access-date=22 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127202631/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1211/21ariane/|archive-date=27 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTHGD4VUE_Expanding_0.html|title=Successful firing of Vega's first-stage motor in Kourou|date=30 November 2006|publisher=ESA|access-date=30 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305173010/http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTHGD4VUE_Expanding_0.html|archive-date=5 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The incorporation of the ESC-B with the improvements to the solid motor casing and an uprated Vulcain engine would have delivered {{cvt|27000|kg}} to LEO. This would have been developed for any lunar missions but the performance of such a design might not have been possible if the higher [[Max Q|Max-Q]] for the launch of this launch vehicle would have posed a constraint on the mass delivered to orbit.<ref name="ariane upgrades">{{cite web|url=http://www.astron.nl/p/news/LO/Iranzo_Ariane5_LOFARworkshop.ppt |title=Ariane 5—A European Launcher for Space Exploration |access-date=10 April 2008 |author=David Iranzo-Greus |date=23 March 2005 |publisher=EADS SPACE Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911061500/http://www.astron.nl/p/news/LO/Iranzo_Ariane5_LOFARworkshop.ppt |archive-date=11 September 2008}}</ref>