# H10

> upper rocket stage built by Aérospatiale

**Wikidata**: [Q126022330](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126022330)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/h10

## Summary
H10 is an upper rocket stage manufactured by Aérospatiale in France. It functions as a space tug, designed to move payloads from a reference orbit to their target orbit or direct them onto an interplanetary trajectory. The H10 stage was a key component used in various Ariane rocket versions, including Ariane 2, Ariane 3, and multiple Ariane 4 configurations.

## Key Facts
*   **Manufacturer:** Aérospatiale (France)
*   **Classification:** Upper rocket stage, rocket model, subclass of space tug
*   **First Flight:** June 15, 1988
*   **Last Flight:** October 22, 1993
*   **Used By:** Ariane 2, Ariane 3, Ariane 40, Ariane 42P, Ariane 42L, Ariane 44P, Ariane 44LP, Ariane 44L
*   **Dimensions:** 11.53 meters in height, 2.66 meters in diameter
*   **Mass:** 12,000 kg (gross weight), 1,600 kg (dry weight)
*   **Propulsion:** Powered by one HM7B engine
*   **Performance:** Maximum vacuum thrust of 62.7 kilonewtons, vacuum specific impulse of 446 seconds
*   **Aliases:** H-10, Ariane H10, Ariane H-10

## FAQs
### Q: What is the H10?
A: The H10 is an upper rocket stage built by Aérospatiale in France. It is classified as a rocket model and a space tug, designed to transport payloads from a reference orbit to a target orbit or an interplanetary trajectory.

### Q: Which rockets used the H10 stage?
A: The H10 stage was used by several versions of the Ariane rocket family. These include Ariane 2, Ariane 3, and various Ariane 4 configurations such as Ariane 40, 42P, 42L, 44P, 44LP, and 44L.

### Q: When did the H10 have its first and last flights?
A: The H10 stage had its maiden flight on June 15, 1988. Its last recorded flight occurred on October 22, 1993.

### Q: Who manufactured the H10?
A: The H10 upper rocket stage was manufactured by Aérospatiale, a company based in France.

### Q: What are the key specifications of the H10?
A: The H10 has a height of 11.53 meters and a diameter of 2.66 meters. Its gross weight is 12,000 kilograms, with a dry weight of 1,600 kilograms. It is powered by one HM7B engine, providing a maximum vacuum thrust of 62.7 kilonewtons and a vacuum specific impulse of 446 seconds.

## Why It Matters
The H10 upper rocket stage was a crucial component in the European Ariane launch vehicle family, particularly for the Ariane 2, Ariane 3, and various Ariane 4 configurations. Its primary significance lay in its function as a "space tug," enabling the precise placement of payloads into their final target orbits or directing them onto interplanetary trajectories. This capability was vital for the success of numerous satellite deployment missions, contributing directly to Europe's independent access to space and its growing commercial launch market share during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Manufactured by Aérospatiale, the H10, powered by its HM7B engine, represented a key technological achievement in liquid-propellant upper stage design. Its operational lifespan, from its maiden flight in 1988 to its last flight in 1993, coincided with a period of intense activity in the commercial satellite industry, making the H10 an indispensable element in delivering critical infrastructure to space. Its performance characteristics, such as its high specific impulse, allowed for efficient and effective payload delivery, solidifying its importance in the history of European rocketry.

## Notable For
*   Its role as a versatile upper stage for a wide range of Ariane rocket configurations, including Ariane 2, Ariane 3, and eight distinct Ariane 4 versions.
*   Being manufactured by Aérospatiale, a significant French aerospace company, contributing to European space capabilities.
*   Functioning as a space tug, providing the critical ability to precisely place payloads into target orbits or direct them onto interplanetary trajectories.
*   Its use of the HM7B engine, which provided specific performance characteristics such as a high vacuum specific impulse of 446 seconds.

## Body

### Overview
The H10 is an upper rocket stage, classified as a rocket model and a subclass of a space tug. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale in France. The H10 is also known by its aliases: H-10, Ariane H10, and Ariane H-10.

### Purpose and Usage
The primary purpose of the H10 was to serve as a space tug, designed to move payloads from a reference orbit to a target orbit or to direct them to an interplanetary trajectory. It was integrated into several versions of the Ariane launch vehicle family. These included:
*   Ariane 2
*   Ariane 3
*   Ariane 40
*   Ariane 42P
*   Ariane 42L
*   Ariane 44P
*   Ariane 44LP
*   Ariane 44L

### Operational Timeline
The H10 upper rocket stage had its maiden flight, a significant event, on June 15, 1988. Its operational period concluded with its last flight on October 22, 1993.

### Technical Specifications
The H10 possessed specific dimensions and performance characteristics:
*   **Height:** 11.53 meters
*   **Diameter:** 2.66 meters
*   **Mass:**
    *   Gross weight: 12,000 kilograms
    *   Dry weight: 1,600 kilograms
*   **Propulsion:** It was powered by a single HM7B engine.
*   **Performance:**
    *   Maximum thrust (vacuum): 62.7 kilonewtons
    *   Specific impulse (vacuum): 446 seconds

## References

1. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/a/ariane2-3h10.html)
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/ariane.htm)