Launch

Ariane 6 Will Take Off This Summer

Published on 30 November 2023

The static test carried out on November 23, 2023 went as planned. Ariane 6 fired up its Vulcain 2.1 engine for almost 8 minutes. ESA, CNES and Arianegroup have just announced that the first take-off of Ariane 6 will take place between June 15 and July 31, 2024.

“It’s a good day for Space Europ” , said ESA director Josef Aschbacher. During a press conference , on November 30, 2023, the working group on the Ariane 6 launcher, composed of the European Space Agency, CNES, and Arianegroup confirmed that the static test of the main engine of the rocket had gone as planned. The inaugural flight is expected to take place between June 15 and July 31, 2024. Before then, new tests are planned.

On November 23, 2023, a test lasting nearly eight minutes was successfully carried out at the Kourou site in Guyana.

@ESA/CNES/Arianegroup

EVERYTHING WENT WELL

THE STATIC TEST OF ARIANE 6’S VULCAIN ENGINE WAS A SUCCESS

It was an eagerly awaited press conference. Members of the working group on the Ariane 6 launcher On November 30, we presented the progress made towards the first flight of the European rocket. An opportunity for ESA, CNES and Arianegroupe, which make up this working group, to review the last two tests carried out in October and November.

Two Decisive Tests

On October 23, Combined Test 2.1 rehearsed a full launch timeline. It lasted more than thirty hours to test the robustness of the system, particularly during take-off conditions that were difficult for the teams. On November 23 , the long-fire test was an opportunity to test, for 7 minutes and 50 seconds, the operation of the Vulcain 2.1 engine, the main engine of the Ariane 6 rocket. Both tests went as planned. “The test covered all the elements necessary to qualify ” said the joint press release from the members of the Ariane 6 working group , allowing them to consider a timetable for an inaugural flight.

A FLIGHT THIS SUMMER

ARIANE 6 SHOULD TAKE OFF BETWEEN JUNE 15 AND JULY 31

The second test, which lasted a total of 24 hours with the Vulcain firing 12 hours after the start of operations, made it possible to maintain the main engine at a stabilized speed. It reached 3000°C and the water deluge system was triggered. “A complete success, ” according to the press release which allows the first flight to be scheduled between June 15 and July 31.

Final Preparations

In the meantime, two other tests will be carried out during the first half of December:

Lampoldshausen Test Centre in Germany, will test the firing of the upper stage. This includes putting it to the test under extreme conditions.
Then on December 15, a new sequence of combined tests intended to prepare for operation of the launcher will take place. It will be punctuated by a short ignition of the main engine.

Representatives of the working group on the Ariane 6 launcher held a press conference on November 30, 2023 to give an update on the situation.

@Esa/CNES/Arianegroup

🚀#Ariane6 first launch is now targeted between mid June and end of July 2024!

With the latest test complete, Ariane 6 has been through the essential rehearsals required for qualification. We have validated our models, increased our knowledge of operations and are now confident… pic.twitter.com/1Ak7qJSSDu
— Josef Aschbacher (@AschbacherJosef) November 30, 2023

VALIDATED MODEL

JOSEF ASCHBACHER SALUTED THE WORK OF THE ARIANE 6 TEAMS

“We have validated our models, deepened our knowledge of operations and are now confident for our first launch period of the new European heavy launcher, ” enthused the director of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher on X (ex-Twitter ). “We can’t wait to see Ariane 6 take off.” Despite its numerous postponements the European rocket already has the confidence of its customers since around thirty launches are planned. Nine are expected to leave the Kourou site each year.