Editing Ariane 4 (section)

=== Teaming and construction ===
As the Ariane 4 programme took shape, it gained the support of [[Belgium]], [[Denmark]], [[Spain]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[France]], [[Sweden]], and [[Switzerland]].<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|page=180}} The main contractors were [[Aérospatiale]] (responsible for the first and second stages), [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm]] (MBB) (produced the liquid-fuelled boosters), [[Safran Aircraft Engines|Société Européenne de Propulsion]] (SEP) (engine manufacturer), [[Matra]] (equipment bay assembly), [[Air Liquide]] (production of third stage tanks and insulation), [[SNIA S.p.A.|BPD Snia]] (maker of solid-fuelled boosters), and [[British Aerospace]]/[[RUAG|Contraves Space AG]] (manufacturers of the fairing).<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|page=180}} For their work on the Ariane 4, the Launch Team were subsequently awarded the Space Achievement Award by the [[Space Foundation]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awards |url=https://www.spacefoundation.org/what-we-do/awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519040331/https://www.spacefoundation.org/what-we-do/awards/ |archive-date=19 May 2024 |access-date=13 June 2015 |publisher=[[Space Foundation]] }}</ref>

In conjunction with the development of the Ariane 4 itself, a new purpose-built launch preparation area and launch pad for the rocket, collectively designated as ''ELA-2'', was constructed at the [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]] to service the Ariane 4 and provide a launch rate of 8 launches per year (this feat was near-unprecedented for a single large rocket, other than within the Soviet Union).<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|pages=178-179}} Unlike the earlier ''ELA-1'' which had been used for the previous members of the Ariane family and other rockets, preparation activity for the rocket would be performed in a purpose-built {{convert|80|m|ft|adj=on}} tall hall rather than on the pad itself; the completed rocket was then transported using a specially-designed railway to slowly traverse from the hall to the launch pad, taking one hour. This railway provided the additional benefit of enabling faulty rockets to be withdrawn from the pad and be substituted for relatively quickly.<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|page=179}}

On 15 June 1988, the first successful launch of the Ariane 4 was conducted.<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|page=180}} For this first test flight, it was decided to fire the second most powerful version of the rocket, designated ''44LP'', equipped with four main engines, two solid boosters and two liquid boosters; it was also furnished with the multi-satellite SPELDA fairing. 50 seconds after take-off, the solid boosters would be expended and be detached in order to reduce the rocket's weight.<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|page=180}} 143 seconds after take-off, the liquid boosters also detached, further lightening the vehicle. The maiden flight was considered a success, putting multiple satellites into orbit.<ref name="harvey-2003" />{{rp|page=180}}