Ariane 6: Getting ready for inaugural flight

European Space Agency, ESA
European Space Agency, ESA
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Published 2023-12-21
Teams across Europe and at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, have been tirelessly conducting a test campaign that will, in 2024, end with the first launch of Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 6.

In the summer, the mobile gantry was rolled back at the launchpad, revealing the huge rocket to the elements. Then, the main stage’s Vulcain 2.1 engine roared into life in a series of ‘hot fire’ tests for the rocket and entire ground system, including tank filling rehearsals, countdowns, vibration-damping water systems and more.

Tests continued on the upper-stage reignitable Vinci engine and Auxiliary Power Unit at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) test site in Lampoldshausen.

Very soon, tests will be complete, and Europe’s heavy-lift rocket will take flight.

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All Comments (21)
  • @Kytetiger
    for those wondering, Ariane 6 is for Heavy-lift and for Geostationary transfer orbit. Falcon9 could also do it in the coming years Ariane 6 is not reusable, but ESA is already testing the Themis Project. It's a reusable rocket using Prometheus engine and Callisto launchers. edit: Thank you all for your constructive responses. I'm not a smart enough person I just like to watch stuff about space, but thanks to your kind replies, I understand that I made a mistake. I was excited and wanted only to share information, but the articles that I read were misleading and incorrect on certain points. I mixed up Falcon heavy and Starship. I stand corrected. I did some additional readings, and here is what I understood: Ariane 5 Type: heavy Payload: 21 tonnes for LEO; 10,5t for GTO Ariane 64 Type: Medium to heavy Payload: 21,65t LEO; 11,5t for GTO Falcon 9 block 5 Type: medium (heavy if expendable) Payload expendable: 22,8 tonnes LEO; 8,3t GTO Payload reusable: 17,6t for LEO; 5,5t for GTO Falcon Heavy Type: super heavy Payload expendable: 63,8t for LEO; 26,7t for GTO Payload reusable: 57t for LEO; 10t for GTO Starship Type: super heavy Payload expendable: 250t for LEO; 150t for GTO Payload reusable: 100-150t for LEO; If people more intelligent than me could help me and verify this information.
  • @alanmartin1949
    Get on with it lads - we can't leave it all to SpaceX!
  • @MayuriK_it
    Really nice, can't wait to see the launch!
  • @ptonpc
    Looking forward to this,
  • @filipe5722
    Beautiful to see, we should keep ensuring that Europe does not lose access to space.
  • @Puffye
    Hope we can get to Ariana 7 soon
  • @SP95
    🚀 Pour le projet SUSIE
  • @TheVantriliquist13
    Dang I got old school Top Gear vibes but for rockets instead of cars lol