We are committed to closely reporting on the progress of #Ariane6 in the final stretch towards inaugural launch. The Combined Test Specimen (a functional model in an Ariane 64 config) is assembled on the launch pad for testing. Updates will be posted here:
Ariane 6 joint update report, 12 May 202312/05/2023ESA / Enabling & Support / Space TransportationThe Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force consists of top management of ESA, launch base prime contractor CNES, launcher system prime contractor ArianeGroup and launch service provider Arianespace. This regular update will follow Task Force meetings, to report on the progress being made towards inaugural flight of the new Ariane 6 launcher.The next update is expected on or soon after 8 June.Key milestones towards inaugural flight:Starting May 2023: Flight software qualification tests - Software tests in anticipation of the inaugural flight mission, in nominal and degraded conditions.Starting May 2023: Ground combined tests sequence, at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana - This test sequence notably includes two wet rehearsals and a long firing test of the lower stage on the launch pad. The successful achievement of this sequence is a main prerequisite for the inaugural flight.Completion of outstanding qualification reviews of the different products and sub-systems.Starting late-June 2023: Overall launch system qualification review - Unified qualification review of the launcher, launch system and launch base.Early July 2023: Upper stage additional test at DLR Lampoldshausen, Germany - This test on the P5.2 test bench will simulate a nominal flight profile like the one planned for the inaugural flight, to confirm the expected behaviour of the upper stage. A further test is planned to examine stage behaviour in degraded cases.Starting November 2023: Launch vehicle assembly and beginning of the inaugural flight launch campaign - Following sea transportation of lower and upper stages from France and Germany to French Guiana, this process will include in a full-fledged flight configuration a final dress rehearsal.Recent achievementsJanuary 2023: Upper-stage hot firing test was successfully performed on the DLR’s P5.2 test bench at Lampoldshausen. First the Vinci engine was operated for the planned duration, then the Auxiliary Power Unit was fired twice, as expected. The APU is a liquid oxygen/hydrogen engine used to provide small thrust for propellant settlement, velocity increment for end of life manoeuvre and tank pressurisation. Analysis confirmed very good behaviour of this module.Ongoing: The Combined Test specimen of the rocket is a functional model in an Ariane 64 configuration. It is assembled on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, and used for the combined tests. Electrical interfaces have been connected and functional checks have been performed, using the control bench that is part of the launch pad.Ongoing: In Europe, the assembly of the elements of the first Flight Model (FM1, the launcher for the inaugural flight) is well advanced. Modules integration is progressing in ArianeGroup’s factories in Les Mureaux and Bremen. In French Guiana, the two P120C solid rocket motors have been casted (FM1 is an Ariane 62 configuration).December 2022 - April 2023: The launch base technical qualification review was started in December. The first part (excluding the control bench) concluded in April. The review did not raise major concerns on the qualification. The control bench qualification will be achieved within June 2023.
Ariane 6 joint update report, 8 June 2023<snip>Recent achievementsMay 2023: a first batch of documentation has been delivered as planned for the overall launch system qualification review allowing to confirm the beginning of this review end June.Early June 2023: the configuration of the avionic platform (iron bird) which is used for qualifying the avionic system including flight software with hardware in the loop has been changed and is now ready for the qualification tests in flight configuration. The avionic platform has been used successfully for qualifying the avionic system necessary for the Combined Tests.Ongoing: The Combined Test specimen of the rocket is a functional model in an Ariane 64 configuration. It is assembled on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou and used for the combined tests together with the qualified ground segment installations. Electrical interfaces have been connected and functional checks have been performed, using the control bench that is part of the launch pad. Fluidic interfaces have been connected in May and functional checks are being completed, as an important step towards loading/de-loading of the launcher model with fluids which is planned before summer break.Ongoing: In Europe, the assembly of the elements of the first Flight Model (FM1, the launcher for the inaugural flight) is well advanced. Modules integration is progressing in ArianeGroup’s factories in Les Mureaux and Bremen. In Les Mureaux, operations started in the Pre-FAL1 (first step of the Final Assembly Line in mainland Europe for the Lower Propulsive Module) with the integration of the hydrogen tank. In French Guiana, the two P120C solid rocket motors have been cast (FM1 is an Ariane 62 configuration).Ongoing: The launch base technical qualification review was started in December. The first part (excluding the control bench) concluded in April. The review did not raise major concerns on the qualification. The second step of the technical qualification review dealing with the control bench was started at the end of May and will be concluded mid-June 2023.
https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1668191794062938118QuotePeter B. de Selding @pbdesAriane 6 progress report: Autumn test firing of 2d stage by @DLR_de added to schedule. Assembly of inaugural-flight vehicle to start in November. @esa @CNES @ArianeGroup @Arianespace .https://bit.ly/43OrkWehttps://www.spaceintelreport.com/ariane-6-autumn-test-firing-of-upper-stage-added-to-schedule-assembly-of-1st-flight-vehicle-to-start-in-november/QuoteAriane 6: Autumn test firing of upper stage added to schedule; assembly of 1st flight vehicle to start in Novemberwritten by Peter B. de Selding June 12, 2023PARIS — Government and industry managers of Europe’s heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket have added an additional test firing of the vehicle’s upper stage, to occur in the autumn, but otherwise reported apparently nominal progress on the vehicle’s development.The final Ariane 5 mission is scheduled this month. The successor rocket, Ariane 6, is about two years behind schedule. Its inaugural flight, from Europe’s Guiana Space Center spaceport in South America, is likely to occur in the first half of 2024.
Peter B. de Selding @pbdesAriane 6 progress report: Autumn test firing of 2d stage by @DLR_de added to schedule. Assembly of inaugural-flight vehicle to start in November. @esa @CNES @ArianeGroup @Arianespace .https://bit.ly/43OrkWe
Ariane 6: Autumn test firing of upper stage added to schedule; assembly of 1st flight vehicle to start in Novemberwritten by Peter B. de Selding June 12, 2023PARIS — Government and industry managers of Europe’s heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket have added an additional test firing of the vehicle’s upper stage, to occur in the autumn, but otherwise reported apparently nominal progress on the vehicle’s development.The final Ariane 5 mission is scheduled this month. The successor rocket, Ariane 6, is about two years behind schedule. Its inaugural flight, from Europe’s Guiana Space Center spaceport in South America, is likely to occur in the first half of 2024.
Ariane 6: Autumn test firing of upper stage added to schedule; assembly of 1st flight vehicle to start in Novemberwritten by Peter B. de Selding June 12, 2023PARIS — Government and industry managers of Europe’s heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket have added an additional test firing of the vehicle’s upper stage, to occur in the autumn, but otherwise reported apparently nominal progress on the vehicle’s development.
Early July 2023: Upper stage additional test at DLR Lampoldshausen, Germany - This test on the P5.2 test bench will simulate a nominal flight profile like the one planned for the inaugural flight, to confirm the expected behaviour of the upper stage. A further test is planned to examine stage behaviour in degraded cases.
BREAKINGTake-off of Ariane 6 in 2024: this is what Philippe Baptiste (DG CNES) has just announced at @EmmanuelMacron at @salondubourget
European officials held a briefing this week to "share the current status of the Ariane 6 program." Alas there was little new information, and no revised launch date. This "roadmap" was provided, however.
As part of the combined tests campaign, the #Ariane6 mobile gantry was retracted on June 22, unveiling the launch vehicle on its launch pad.Get more pictures here: https://press.ariane.group/strongariane-6-seule-sur-son-pas-de-tir-pour-preparer-les-essais-a-feu-strong-8768/?lang=eng #ArianeGroup @esa @CNES @EuropeSpacePort
#ArianeGroup #Ariane6@esa @CNES @EuropeSpacePort ©2023 ESA-CNES-Arianespace-Arianegroup / Optique vidéo du CSG - P Baudon
Thales Alenia Space signs contract with ArianeGroup to start production of the Ariane 6 range safeguard systemJune 22, 2023 — Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with ArianeGroup to produce telemetry transmitters for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. The initial contract will cover the first 15 launchers in a program that will stretch over a period of 30 years, with delivery of 30 transmitters by the fall of 2025 to prepare for the ramp-up in operations.Europe’s new launch vehicle combines proven and innovative solutions to address changing market requirements, while retaining the recognized reliability of the Ariane family. Thales Alenia Space in Spain is now part of this family, as a supplier on Ariane 6.Ariane 6 is a European Space Agency (ESA) program designed to maintain Europe’s position as a leader in the fast-changing commercial launch market, while continuing to meet requirements for European government missions. The launcher will be produced in two versions: Ariane 62, fitted with two boosters; and Ariane 64, fitted with four boosters, capable of dual launches (two satellites at once). The critical milestones leading up to Ariane 6’s first launch are being carefully monitored by a special task force.The two telemetry transmitters on each launcher are primarily designed to send launcher data to the ground throughout the launch, enabling post-launch analysis of all flight data. Rated at 30W, this high-performance transmitter was wholly designed and built by Thales Alenia Space in Spain, creating the basis for a line of spaceborne digital transmitters.In addition, Thales Alenia Space in Belgium is in charge of the development and production of the range safety system and the electronic control unit for Ariane 6’s nozzle steering system. “The contract signed during the Paris Air Show confirms ArianeGroup’s trust in the skills and expertise of Thales Alenia Space’s Spanish teams, who are now part of the European launcher story,” said Stéphane Terranova, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Spain.ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACEDrawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion euros in 2022 and has around 8,500 employees in 17 sites in 10 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA.
Teams preparing Ariane 6 for its inaugural flight successfully completed for the first time a launcher preparation and countdown sequence, on 18 July at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana
Ariane 6: launch system tests progressing well25/07/2023ESA / Enabling & Support / Space TransportationTeams preparing Ariane 6 for its inaugural flight successfully completed for the first time a launcher preparation and countdown sequence, on 18 July at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.Representatives of ESA, Ariane 6 prime contractor ArianeGroup and launch base prime contractor and test conductor CNES completed important objectives for system qualification and performed a series of actions fully representative of a launch chronology.The launch simulation included the removal of the mobile gantry, the chill-down of ground and launcher fluidic systems, the filling of the upper and core stage tanks with liquid hydrogen (–253°C) and liquid oxygen (–183°C), and at the end of the test, the successful completion of a launch chronology up to the ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine thrust chamber by the ground system.During the 26-hour exercise, the teams successfully tested many degraded and contingency modes, demonstrating that the launcher and the launch base fit correctly.Operational procedures, lower and upper stages, avionics, software, launch base and control bench worked correctly together, and the performance of the full launch system was measured with excellent results.The last part of the test – a short ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine – had to be postponed to the next test session as time ran out. The teams are now working towards continuing the exercise, in preparation for a long duration hot firing test later this summer.The project team is confident about the progress of the test campaign, in light of the results of the 18 July tests.“The tests which were conducted on 18 July mark a critical achievement on the road to the inaugural flight and were an overall success with key objectives completed."I want to thank and congratulate the teams from ESA, ArianeGroup and CNES for their outstanding work and tremendous cooperation,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General and chair of the Ariane 6 Task Force.
Here below please find the updated schedule for #Ariane6 development. With this, @ESA, @ArianeGroup, @Arianespace and @CNES confirm that the inaugural launch is now targeted for 2024.
After successful tests including completion of a launch chronology of the core stage up to the ignition of the Vulcain thrust chamber on 18 July in Kourou, we will run a short hot-firing test on 29 August.
The following milestone will be the third hot-firing test of the upper stage in Lampoldshausen on 1 September.
A long hot-firing test of the core stage – scheduled for 26 September @EuropeSpacePort – will be open for journalists to attend.
Furthermore, we will organize a detailed briefing after the long hot-firing test of 26 September, when we will also be able to provide a more precise launch period for 2024. Our next regularly scheduled Task Force report to the public is planned for 4 September.
N° 38–2023: Media invitation: Ariane 6 test campaign update8 August 2023Media representatives are invited to attend an online press briefing and question and answer (Q&A) session on 4 September 2023 to follow the progress achieved and outline upcoming steps in the Ariane 6 development test campaign being conducted at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, and at the German aerospace agency DLR’s technical centre in Lampoldshausen, Germany.The press briefing is part of the decision made in early June by the Ariane 6 Task Force to provide regular updates on the Ariane 6 launcher development.The Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force consists of top management of ESA, launch base prime contractor CNES and test conductor , launcher system prime contractor ArianeGroup and launch service provider Arianespace. The last update on Ariane 6 progress was provided in July after launch system tests were successfully conducted at Europe Spaceport’s in Kourou, French Guiana, on 18 July. The 18 July tests included core-stage tank filling operations as well as a series of operational procedures verifying the performance of the interactions between the launcher and the ground on the Ariane 6 launch pad.The article was published together with a series of pictures related to the mobile gantry removal and ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine thrust chamber.At the very last part of the 18 July test, after reaching 90% of the test sequence objectives, the very last part of the test – a short hot firing of the Vulcain 2.1 engine – could not be conducted. The Streamlined Management Team decided to run a new test on 29 August 2023, after a necessary reconfiguration of the ground system.The 4 September media briefing will also provide an update on the next important milestones, these being the upper stage Hot Firing Test 3 (HFT3) to be held in Lampoldshausen on 1 September (*) followed later that month, by a long firing test of the core stage and its engine, the Vulcain 2.1, in Kourou, tentatively scheduled on 26 September (*). The latter will also give engineering teams all the results needed to define a launch period for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight in 2024.The press briefing will be held online on 4 September 2023 at 12:00 - 13:00 CEST. In the meantime, media are invited to access the following question and answer document which addresses the progress of the tests.
Ariane 6's short hot firing test at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, was postponed on 29 August 2023 due to a technical issue affecting the control bench governing the critical fluidic operations (the launcher’s filling and the automated countdown). Specialists are working on a solution. The next attempt is planned for 5 September 2023.
Today the Ariane 6 upper stage was tested at DLR Lampoldshausen in Germany. Vinci and the APU fired twice to simulate the profile of the first launch next year.DLR's press release (in German only today - English version to be issued later):https://www.dlr.de/de/aktuelles/nachrichten/2023/03/heisslauftest-fuer-ariane-6-oberstufe-ebnet-weg-zum-erststart
Good news this weekend: Ariane 6 upper stage has completed another hot-fire test, representative of the inaugural flight, at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) site in Lampoldshausen : https://press.ariane.group/nouvel-essai-a-feu-reussi-de-letage-superieur-dariane-6-9516/?lang=eng#ArianeGroup #Ariane6@esa @DLR_en @CNES @Arianespace