The European Space Agency (ESA) is targeting a launch window in the first two weeks of July for the maiden flight of its new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced the narrowed timeframe on social media Tuesday, saying that teams at ESA, the French space agency CNES, and main contractor ArianeGroup have been working to refine the launch schedule. A specific target date will be announced in June.
The Ariane 6 has been in development since 2014 and was originally scheduled to fly for the first time in 2020. However, the project has faced several delays. The new rocket is designed to replace the Ariane 5, which made its final flight in July 2023. Arianespace is building two versions of the Ariane 6: the Ariane 62 with two strap-on boosters and the more powerful Ariane 64 with four boosters. The rocket will stand over 60 meters tall and weigh nearly 900 tons when launched with a full payload, comparable to the weight of one-and-a-half Airbus A380 passenger aircraft.
The Ariane 6’s upper-stage engine, called Vinci, uses liquid hydrogen and oxygen. It can be stopped and restarted multiple times, making it suitable for missions requiring the deployment of multiple satellites into different orbits. Aschbacher has described the first Ariane 6 launch as the “big event of the year” for European space endeavors. The agency acknowledges the inherent risks associated with the maiden flight, with Aschbacher noting the statistical probability of a 47% chance of encountering issues during the initial launch. Despite these potential challenges, ESA remains committed to ensuring a successful mission.
The Ariane 6 is a significant advancement in European space technology, offering increased versatility and cost-effectiveness compared to its predecessor, the Ariane 5. Its successful launch will mark a milestone for ESA and strengthen Europe’s position in the global space industry.
