Most, if not all, will carry dual payloads. The company is also developing upgraded Ariane 5 versions to double the payload capacity to 12,000 kg to GTO by 2005. Range safety commanded the vehicle to self-destruct after its second stage failed to ignite. V02 carried the 80 kg SACI-2 research satellite. It was the second VLS-1 failure in two attempts.
All stages burn composite solid propellant.
The first stage uses four 1.0 meter diameter motors. Each of these motors weighs 7,200 kg and produces 30,000 kgf thrust. The third and fourth stages are also 1.0 meter in diameter. VLS-1 is designed to put 350 kg into low earth orbit. A Star 37S solid fuel kick motor provided the final orbital insertion punch about 13 minutes after liftoff.