A second attempt to fly the uprated Ariane 5 ECA booster has been set for June. The first ended in failure. For this flight, the booster will carry the Xtar-Eur military communications satellite, the 129kg (284lb) Sloshsat-FLEVO liquid experimentation facility and 3,000kg of ballast.
The ECA's Snecma Vulcain 2 cryogenic core-stage engine has been improved. A nickel-based alloy jacket has been welded outside the upper part of the nozzle, which will also have axial stiffeners. The liquid hydrogen flow rate in the cooling circuits has been increased, and an yttrium zirconate thermal barrier applied to the inside of the upper nozzle.
Source: Flight International