Author Topic: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates  (Read 343259 times)

Online jacqmans

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #160 on: 07/09/2017 09:08 am »
Press release, 6 July 2017

New thrust for Ariane 6 - Production of the new Vinci thrust chamber starts in Ottobrunn

Space travel is not possible without launchers. Every space activity is based on this simple fact. Launcher systems connect Earth to space. They transport people and materials into space and deliver research and commercial satellites to orbit. Launchers
provide the only way to conduct scientific research and ensure commercial utilisation of space. But to survive in today's competitive environment, access to space must also be economically viable. "Europe's response to this challenge is the new Ariane
6 launcher with its innovative, cost-effective and reignitable, next-generation upper stage engine. The combustion chamber – the 'heart' of the engine - and other important components are made in Germany. This is the result of the competence and skills
– unparalleled in Europe – that have been developed thanks to, among others, funding from the Space Administration at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR)," emphasised Gerd Gruppe, DLR Executive Board member
responsible for the Space Administration. Production at ArianeGroup in Ottobrunn began on 28 June 2017 – an important milestone for Europe's gateway to space.

The heart of the upper stage engine comes from Ottobrunn

A great deal of energy is needed for a launcher and its payload to escape Earth’s gravitational field. Ariane accomplishes this feat initially by using its main stage and solid fuel boosters. The upper stage, with the Vinci engine, takes over once
the work of the boosters and main stage has been completed. Energy-efficient and reignitable engines are crucial to ensure optimal propulsion in space. "We have succeeded in substantially increasing the efficiency of the Vinci engine, while at the
same time creating the capacity to reignite the engine five times. This means that a variety of payloads can quickly and reliably be delivered to their required orbits," explains Denis Regenbrecht, responsible for the Ariane programme at the DLR Space
Administration. The main production task has been delegated to the French ArianeGroup location in Vernon: "But the heart of the engine – the combustion chamber – is built in Ottobrunn, Bavaria. This is where combustion takes place, which creates a
thrust of 180 kilonewtons," Regenbrecht adds. Vinci uses cryogenic hydrogen (LH2: – liquid hydrogen at minus 253 degrees Celsius) as its fuel, and cryogenic oxygen (LOX – liquid oxygen at minus 180 degrees Celsius) as its oxidiser, after the expander
cycle. First the fuel flows around the combustion chamber, cooling it down and evaporating. The gases produced by this process are used to drive turbopumps, which force the oxidiser and fuel into the combustion chamber, where they are burned together
with the additional oxidiser.

German industry contribution

The combustion chamber in this next-generation engine is not built by the ArianeGroup in Ottobrunn alone. Many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Germany are also contributing to the project. For instance, a large number of turned and milled
metal components, as well as hoses and seals, are made by medium-sized companies in Bavaria.

Innovative methods reduce production costs

Innovative technologies like additive layer manufacturing (ALM) and powder metallurgy are used to manufacture the Vinci upper stage engine. "These two methods have substantial advantages compared to cast or forged products, as components involving
complex structures can be produced in large numbers, without the need for mechanical reworking. The elimination of expensive manufacturing stages and simplification of the engine structure have cut the costs significantly," explains Regenbrecht.

Revolution in the launcher market

Cost-efficiency measures like this are absolutely imperative, as the situation in the space transport sector has changed radically in recent years – on the supply side as well as the demand side. "European launcher systems face growing levels of competition
in global markets, which will intensify the price pressure in future. Ariane 6 is a response to this situation, as its launch costs will be approximately half of what they were with its European predecessor, Ariane 5," emphasises Regenbrecht.

Engine tested in Lampoldshausen

With its 79 successful launches, Ariane 5 is amongst the most reliable launch vehicles ever built. The engines of its successor are tested carefully to ensure the continuation of safe transport of payloads into space. The next-generation Vinci engine
is being tested at the DLR Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen. Test campaigns are currently underway on the P4.1 altitude simulation test stand to complete development of the engine design and to obtain qualification for flight operations.
DLR scientists use these tests to acquire insight into the engine's behaviour, which the manufacturer ArianeGroup can then use to make final improvements.

Ariane 6

During the ESA Council Meeting at Ministerial Level in December 2014, the member states adopted a resolution to develop a new launcher system, Ariane 6. Its purpose is to advance the engineering of the Ariane launcher and to ensure its continued competitiveness
in the global market. This requires restructuring within the European launcher sector. In future, responsibilities, costs and risks will be reassigned between the European Space Agency and the continent's space industry. Many components used in the
Ariane 6 will draw on the experience and technologies of Ariane 5. Here, engineers will add new elements that have proven reliable to existing platforms. This will enable the complete development of the new launcher system within five years. The first
flight of the approximately 60-metre-tall Ariane 6 is planned for 2020. Depending on its configuration, the launcher can be equipped with two (version A62) or four external boosters (version A64) and therefore transport either five or 11 tons of payload
into space. ArianeGroup is ESA's main contractual partner for the development and construction of the launcher system. Germany is contributing approximately 23 percent of the development programme's overall costs. The DLR Space Administration is coordinating
the German ESA budget on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Jacques :-)

Offline calapine

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #161 on: 07/14/2017 08:15 am »
https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/885768951782887425

Quote
The old and the new, foreground the new #Ariane6 vulcain 2.1 demonstration engine nozzle, background the current #Ariane5 one, via
@GKNAero https://t.co/8qTAG3d0NK

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #162 on: 07/20/2017 09:03 am »

Online jacqmans

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #163 on: 07/21/2017 08:51 am »
Waiting for the press release, but the first test of an Ariane-6 side booster was a success.
Jacques :-)

Offline calapine

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #164 on: 07/21/2017 12:56 pm »
Waiting for the press release, but the first test of an Ariane-6 side booster was a success.


Here:

Quote
NEW TYPE OF BOOSTER CASING FOR ARIANE 6 SUCCESSFULLY TESTED

This morning, MT Aerospace AG, a space technology company based in Augsburg, Germany and subsidiary of the listed technology group OHB SE*, successfully tested a new technology for carbon fiber-reinforced (CFRP) booster casings.

With a diameter of 3.5 meters and a length of 6 meters, the booster was tested at the Materials Testing Institute in Stuttgart to determine whether it meets representative requirements as seen during an Ariane launch. Simulating pressure loads over 125 bar, the CFRP booster casing successfully passed all tests.

Franz Josef Pschierer, the Bavarian state secretary for economics and technology commented: “The successful test of the CFRP booster casing marks an important step in the development of the ARIANE 6 launch vehicle and, hence, for the European space industry as a whole. I congratulate MT Aerospace AG on this success. This not only benefits Augsburg but strengthens the status of the entire state of Bavaria as one of the leading hubs of high-tech research and production.”

MT Aerospace has been working since summer 2013 on the development of the state-of-the-art production technology for carbon-fiber processing together with the DLR Center for Lightweight Production Technology (DLR-ZLP) on behalf of the European Space Agency ESA (FORC project) and the Bavarian government (DLR-ZLP project KOFFER). Featuring infusion technology, the newly developed process leads to lower cost when compared to conventional wet-winding processes, substantially enhancing the competitiveness of the new European launch vehicle.

Since 2015 MT Aerospace has been already involved in the development and industrialization of the Ariane 6 CFRP booster. Alongside Colleferro near Rome, Augsburg is selected to be the second production site for CFRP booster casing for the new European launch vehicle, replacing the previous steel versions of Ariane 5. The successful test marked the completion of a crucial milestone in the development programme.

The maiden flight for the new ARIANE 6 is scheduled for 2020.

http://www.mt-aerospace.de/news-details-en/items/new-type-of-booster-casing-for-ariane-6-successfully-tested.html

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #165 on: 07/28/2017 10:43 am »
Quote
Fresh images from #CSG showing flame trench progress for the future #Ariane6 pad #ELA4 via @CNES

https://twitter.com/dutchspace/status/890879880417640452

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #166 on: 08/09/2017 10:52 am »
Quote
Good view of the foundations of the Mobile Gantry being constructed for #Ariane6 launch pad #ELA4 at #CSG

https://twitter.com/dutchspace/status/895224083511693314

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #167 on: 09/05/2017 07:55 am »
Quote
@arianespaceceo S. Israel to France Infos: W/ Ariane 6 in 2020, we'll reduce each launch campaign from 31 days for Ariane 5 now, to 9 days.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/904970602104201219

Offline Rik ISS-fan

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #168 on: 09/06/2017 05:45 am »
Update from AVIO: P120C, WORK IN PROGRESS

The picture that DutchSpace tweet'ed most likely origionated from this French article
futura-sciences / ariane 6 construction
In the article there is also a picture that shows that progress is made on the steel structure of the horizontal (core) assembly building.

Offline Jester

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #169 on: 09/07/2017 03:16 pm »

The picture that DutchSpace tweet'ed most likely origionated from this French article
futura-sciences / ariane 6 construction
In the article there is also a picture that shows that progress is made on the steel structure of the horizontal (core) assembly building.

No

Offline Runerdieker

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #170 on: 09/09/2017 03:51 pm »
The "no" is an answer to which remark from Rik ISS-fan?   ??? The picture that Dutch Space tweeted from the foundations is dated the 9th of august, the article from "Futura Sciences" with a similar picture is dated the 7th of august, so that seems a plausible source. So does the "no" refer to the horizontal core assembly building? Is there an error in that article?

Offline CLE

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #171 on: 09/10/2017 06:26 am »
Two pictures I took one week ago

Offline calapine

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #172 on: 09/13/2017 04:34 pm »
From the Ariane user's day:

Quote
ARIANE 6 - PROGRAM STATUS
Program on-track for 1st launch July 16st, 2020
Key milestones:
1. Vulcain 2.1 firing test from October 2017
2. Vinci qualification campaign end of November 2017
3. MG6.2 in November-December 2017: authorize start of serial production
4. P12OC 1st firing test in April 2018
5. MG7 in June 2018: end of critical design
6. Technical Qualification in September 2019 and start of combined tests in November 2019
« Last Edit: 09/13/2017 07:58 pm by calapine »

Offline calapine

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #173 on: 09/13/2017 04:58 pm »
Drone view video of ELA 4, status July 2017:


Offline Mike Jones

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #174 on: 09/14/2017 04:10 pm »
Big day for Ariane 6. First two contracts signed by Arianespace for 2 Galileo launches on Ariane 62 in 2020 and 2021.
http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/first-ariane-6-contract-arianespace-to-orbit-four-galileo-satellites-on-two-ariane-62-launches/


Offline calapine

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #176 on: 09/18/2017 09:38 am »
Peter B. de Selding, Space Intel Report:
ArianeGroup lays out transition to Ariane 6, phase-out of Ariane 5 and Soyuz

The article is mainly a summary of the User's Day slides I linked above.

Edit: corrected link.
« Last Edit: 09/18/2017 07:02 pm by calapine »

Offline Sam Ho

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #177 on: 09/18/2017 05:02 pm »
Peter B. de Selding, Space Intel Report:
ArianeGroup lays out transition to Ariane 6, phase-out of Ariane 5 and Soyuz

The article is mainly a summary of the User's Day slides I linked above.
Corrected URL for that is https://www.spaceintelreport.com/arianegroup-lays-transition-ariane-6-phase-ariane-5-soyuz/

It's behind a paywall, incidentally.

Offline calapine

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #178 on: 09/18/2017 07:04 pm »
Sorry about the link mistake. Corrected it.

It's a soft paywall only allowing X articles free per month.
Opening in an incognito window should help

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Re: ESA - Ariane 6 Updates
« Reply #179 on: 09/19/2017 08:54 pm »
Quote
First P120C SRM propellant casting complete at Regulus. One more step towards Ariane 6 and Vega C

https://twitter.com/giulioranzo/status/910056626681499648

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