Insider Brief:
- After four years of delays, The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched the Ariane 6 rocket on July 9, restoring Europe’s ability to launch its own rockets and satellites.
- The first flight carried a variety of satellites and experiments from European space agencies, universities, and companies into an orbit 600 km above Earth.
- The Ariane 6 experienced a problem with its third upper-stage engine during the mission. This prevented the planned third engine firing, which is necessary for a controlled re-entry, leaving the upper stage stranded in space and halting the deployment of two experimental re-entry capsules meant to test new heat-shield technologies.
- The upper stage will eventually re-enter the atmosphere and burn up due to atmospheric drag.
- The European space managers expect to maintain a steady pace of nine launches per year after addressing the current backlog. So far, Six flights are booked for 2025, eight flights in 2026, and ten in 2027.
The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched the Ariane 6 rocket on July 9. After four years of delays, the rocket took off from the spaceport in French Guiana, restoring Europe’s ability to launch its own rockets and satellites.
The Ariane 6 replaces the Ariane 5, which had its final flight a year ago. Since then, Europe has relied on other companies, like SpaceX, for space launches. The new rocket aims to provide a dependable and independent option for European space missions. Developed for 4 billion euros by ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, Ariane 6 faced numerous setbacks before its debut. The initial launch was scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to technical and funding challenges. Despite these hurdles, the ESA announced the inaugural mission as a success.
The first flight carried a variety of satellites and experiments from European space agencies, universities, and companies into an orbit 600 km above Earth. This successful mission demonstrates the rocket’s capability and paves the way for future launches. Ariane 6 has approximately 30 customer missions lined up, including 18 launches for Amazon’s Kuiper internet constellation.
During the mission, the Ariane 6 experienced a problem with its third upper-stage engine. The issue arose with the new auxiliary propulsion unit, which is designed to pressurize the upper-stage propellant tanks and enable multiple engine restarts. This malfunction prevented the planned third engine firing, necessary for a controlled re-entry, leaving the upper stage stranded in space. This problem also halted the deployment of two experimental re-entry capsules meant to test new heat-shield technologies. The upper stage will eventually re-enter the atmosphere and burn up due to atmospheric drag.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General, praised the teams at ESA, CNES, ArianeGroup, and Arianespace for their dedication and hard work saying, “A completely new rocket is not launched often, and success is far from guaranteed. I am privileged to have witnessed this historic moment when Europe’s new generation of the Ariane family lifted off – successfully – effectively reinstating European access to space.”
Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup, expressed excitement about the launch and the future of Ariane 6. He emphasized the importance of ramping up production to serve their customers, with the next launch planned before the end of the year. Six flights are booked for 2025, eight flights in 2026, and ten in 2027. The European space managers expect to maintain a steady state of nine launches per year after addressing the current backlog.
Europe’s need for independent space access has grown amid geopolitical tensions and increasing competition in the global space-launch market. The Ariane 6 is more important than ever for Europe’s strategic autonomy in space, with the war in Ukraine having severed ties with Russian Soyuz rockets and Italy’s Vega C remaining grounded.
As Europe continues to develop a new generation of small commercial launchers, the Ariane 6 will play a crucial role in ensuring sovereign access to space for institutional and governmental missions. While it faces stiff competition from SpaceX’s Falcon 9, the successful launch of Ariane 6 marks a vital step toward enhancing Europe’s presence in space exploration and satellite deployment.
The rocket’s predecessor, the Ariane 5, was retired last year after 117 flights, including the notable launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021. The Ariane 6, using upgraded components, is expected to be 40% cheaper to build and operate. However, unlike SpaceX’s reusable rockets, the Ariane 6 is fully expendable, with no components recovered. This approach is considered economically viable for the current launch frequency but will likely change with future increases in launch demand.
Two variants of the Ariane 6 are planned: the Ariane 62 with two strap-on boosters and the Ariane 64 with four boosters. This modular system aims to replace the Russian Soyuz and Ariane 5, catering to all European launch needs. The Ariane 6 could serve as Europe’s workhorse for the next 15 to 30 years.
Image credit: ESA
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