Ariane 5 is the most reliable launcher on the commercial market for launching geostationary satellites and heavy payloads into low earth orbit. This flagship of the European Space Agency (ESA) has gone through five versions. The first, Ariane 5 G – thirteen launches between 1996 and 2003 – is no longer marketed today, as are the G+ (three launches in 2004) and GS (six launches between 2005 and 2009) versions. With the two versions ES and ECA, Ariane 5 can adapt its configuration to mission requirements. Ariane 5 ES is suitable for low and medium orbit missions. Ariane 5 ECA can carry communications satellites up to 10.5 tonnes.