# Ariane 42L

> rocket in the Ariane 4 series

**Wikidata**: [Q16530012](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16530012)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ariane-42l

## Summary
The Ariane 42L is a rocket model that is part of the European Ariane 4 series, classified as an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle. It was designed to launch moderate payloads, such as communications satellites, into various orbits, including low-Earth orbit and geostationary transfer orbit.

## Key Facts
*   The Ariane 42L is an instance of a rocket model and a subclass of expendable launch vehicles, three-stage-to-orbit rockets, and medium-lift launch vehicles.
*   It is part of the Ariane 4 series, a European rocket family.
*   Its first launch occurred on May 12, 1993, and its last launch was on January 23, 2002.
*   The rocket had a gross weight of 363,000 kilograms and a height of 58.4 meters.
*   It was manufactured by Aérospatiale and operated by Arianespace.
*   The Ariane 42L could deliver a payload of up to 7,900 kg to low Earth orbit or 3,590 kg to geostationary transfer orbit.
*   Its country of origin is France.
*   It utilized two PAL (liquid) boosters, an L220 first stage, an L33B second stage, and an H10 third stage.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Ariane 42L?
A: The Ariane 42L is a specific rocket model within the Ariane 4 series, which is a family of European expendable launch vehicles. It is categorized as a medium-lift launch vehicle capable of placing moderate payloads into orbit.

### Q: When was the Ariane 42L in service?
A: The Ariane 42L was operational from its first launch on May 12, 1993, until its final launch on January 23, 2002.

### Q: What types of payloads did the Ariane 42L typically carry?
A: The Ariane 42L was primarily used to launch communications satellites, such as Galaxy 10R, Intelsat 804, NSS-5, and Astra 1C, into various orbits, including geostationary transfer orbit.

### Q: What were the key dimensions of the Ariane 42L?
A: The Ariane 42L had a gross weight of 363,000 kilograms, stood 58.4 meters tall, and had a diameter of 3.8 meters (PAL configuration).

## Why It Matters
The Ariane 42L played a significant role in commercial space launches during its operational period, contributing to Europe's independent access to space. As a medium-lift launch vehicle, it provided a reliable means to deploy a variety of satellites, particularly communications satellites, which were crucial for expanding global telecommunications, broadcasting, and internet services. Its ability to place substantial payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (up to 3,590 kg) made it a workhorse for the satellite industry. The Ariane 42L, as part of the successful Ariane 4 series, demonstrated European capabilities in space technology and helped establish Arianespace as a leading commercial launch provider, fostering competition and innovation in the global space market. Its operational history underscores a critical era of satellite deployment before the advent of newer, more powerful launch systems.

## Notable For
*   **Specific Configuration**: Represented a particular configuration within the highly successful Ariane 4 family, distinguished by its use of two liquid (PAL) boosters.
*   **Significant Payload Capacity**: Capable of lifting 3,590 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and 7,900 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO), making it a robust option for its time.
*   **Commercial Satellite Deployment**: A key vehicle for launching numerous commercial communications satellites, including prominent ones like Galaxy 10R, Intelsat 804, and Astra 1C.
*   **Operational Longevity**: Maintained an operational lifespan of nearly a decade, from 1993 to 2002, demonstrating its reliability and utility.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
The Ariane 42L is a rocket model, an instance of a three-stage-to-orbit, expendable launch vehicle, and a medium-lift launch vehicle. It is a specific variant within the broader Ariane 4 series, a family of European rockets. Its country of origin is France.

### Operational History
The Ariane 42L began its operational life with its first launch on May 12, 1993. Its service concluded with its last launch on January 23, 2002. The rocket was manufactured by Aérospatiale and operated by Arianespace. Launches were conducted from the ELA-2 launch complex.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Gross Weight**: 363,000 kilograms
*   **Height**: 58.4 meters
*   **Diameter**: 3.8 meters (PAL configuration)
*   **Maximum Thrust**: 4048.5 kilonewtons
*   **Payload Capacity**:
    *   Low Earth Orbit (LEO): 7,900 kilograms
    *   Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO): 3,590 kilograms

### Components
The Ariane 42L configuration included:
*   Two PAL (Propulseurs d'Appoint à Liquide) liquid boosters.
*   An L220 first stage.
*   An L33B second stage.
*   An H10 third stage.

### Notable Payloads
During its operational period, the Ariane 42L launched several significant satellites, predominantly communications satellites. These included:
*   Galaxy 10R
*   Intelsat 804
*   NSS-5
*   Intelsat 6B
*   Telstar 4
*   Telstar 402
*   Astra 1C
*   PAS-4
*   Arsene-OSCAR 24
*   Galaxy 4R
*   INSAT-3C
*   SATMEX 5
*   N-SAT-110
*   Astra 1E

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Ariane 42L",
  "description": "Rocket model in the Ariane 4 series, classified as an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11234976"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Rocket",
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Aérospatiale"
  },
  "operator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Arianespace"
  },
  "height": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "value": 58.4,
    "unitCode": "MTR"
  },
  "weight": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "value": 363000,
    "unitCode": "KGM"
  },
  "startDate": "1993-05-12",
  "endDate": "2002-01-23"
}

## References

1. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/a/ariane42l.html)
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/ariane.htm)