Quote from: DT1 on 01/27/2024 08:33 amShipment of the rocket stages for the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 has begun - Canopée is underway...https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9924120Quote The current position of CANOPEE is at North East Atlantic Ocean reported 1 min ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to FRBDX, sailing at a speed of 12.0 knots and expected to arrive there on Jan 27, 17:00.Update:Canopée is on the way to Bremen to pick up the Ariane 6 upper stage (use link above).
Shipment of the rocket stages for the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 has begun - Canopée is underway...https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9924120Quote The current position of CANOPEE is at North East Atlantic Ocean reported 1 min ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to FRBDX, sailing at a speed of 12.0 knots and expected to arrive there on Jan 27, 17:00.
The current position of CANOPEE is at North East Atlantic Ocean reported 1 min ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to FRBDX, sailing at a speed of 12.0 knots and expected to arrive there on Jan 27, 17:00.
Andrew Parsonson@AndrewParsonsonInteresting note from the president of Airbus Netherlands, Rob Postma, on LinkedIn. During its stopover in Rotterdam, the cargo ship Canopée picked up Flight Model 6 of the Vulcain 2.1 engine aft bay (VuAB).
And here's a look at the stage in the container. Image credit: ESA / ArianeGroup / Stephane CORVAJA
Feb 27, 2024 GUIANA SPACE CENTREThe largest components for the first flight model of Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 arrived at the port of Pariacabo in Kourou, French Guiana on 21 February 2024 via the novel ship, Canopée (canopy in French).The Ariane 6 stages and components are all manufactured across Europe. On this trip, Canopée brought the central core for Ariane 6’s first flight. The main engine and the main stage were integrated in Les Mureaux, France, while the upper stage and insulation for the rocket’s exterior were built up in Bremen, Germany.The various Ariane 6 components are then offloaded and transported by road to the new Ariane 6 launch vehicle assembly building just a few kilometres away. Here, the launcher stages are unpacked and installed on the assembly line for integration, and finally, liftoff.The Ariane 6 boosters are already in Europe’s Spaceport after their production in Italy, they are the same P120C solid propulsion boosters as used for Europe’s Vega-C rocket.First the central core will be assembled horizontally after which it is transported to the launchpad. Here it will be lifted into the upright position after which Boosters and the upper stage will be added inside the mobile gantry.This summer Flight Model-1 will be ready to let its engine rumble and fly.Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Arianegroup
The stages for the inaugural Ariane 6 flight currently being assembled05/03/2024The main stage and the upper stage for the inaugural Ariane 6 flight are currently in the central core final assembly line in the Launcher Assembly Building (BAL) at the ELA4 launch complex. The central core is made up of the main stage and the upper stage, assembled together with an inter-stage interface structure. Once assembled, the central core will then be transferred from the BAL to the launch pad.On the launch pad, the central core will be raised to the vertical position and placed on the launch table. The two boosters will then be added, one on each side, to form an Ariane 62. Finally, the upper composite consisting of the fairing and the payloads will then be added to the launcher on the launch pad.The main stage and the upper stage arrived in French Guiana on board the transport ship Canopée on February 21, traveling from ArianeGroup’s sites of Les Mureaux (France) and Bremen (Germany).The Ariane 6 program is managed and funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). As industrial lead contractor and design authority for the launcher, ArianeGroup is responsible for its development and production with its industrial partners, as well as for its marketing through its Arianespace subsidiary. The French Space Agency, CNES, and its contractual partners are responsible for the construction of the Ariane 6-dedicated launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana. CNES in partnership with ArianeGroup also conducts the combined tests under the responsibility of ESA.
Ariane 6 stages having a BAL06/03/2024 The two central stages for Ariane 6’s first flight are being assembled in the launcher assembly building (BAL) at Europe’s Spaceport. The core stage and the upper stage for Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 are set to fly in the Summer of 2024. Once assembled, the stages will be transferred to the launch pad....
First booster for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight is readyA further step on the way towards the first Ariane 6 flight: ArianeGroup teams have completed integration of the first booster for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight. It has been moved from the booster finishing facility at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to a storage building, awaiting transfer to the launch pad.The strap-on boosters (technically called lateral solid rocket motors) with the P120C engine provide most of the thrust at lift-off.21 meters tall with a girth of 3.4 meters, these impressive boosters each carry 142 tons of solid propellant to feed the P120C engine, which can deliver a thrust of up to 4,500 kN during take-off. They operate for a little over two minutes (135 seconds); once they are empty, they detach from the rocket.An Ariane 6 launcher can be equipped with either two or four boosters, depending on the thrust needed for a specific space mission.Ariane 6’s inaugural flight will be an A62 configuration, with two boosters. Integration of the second booster is currently underway at the booster finishing facility at the Spaceport.
Ariane 6 joint update report, 22 March 202422/03/2024 The Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force consists of top management of ESA, as the overall Ariane 6 procuring entity and launch system architect, of the French space agency CNES as the launch base prime contractor, of ArianeGroup as the launcher system prime contractor and of Arianespace as the launch service provider. This group reports regularly on progress being made towards inaugural flight of the new Ariane 6 launcher.Key milestones towards inaugural flight:On the way towards the first flight of Ariane 6, these milestones have been conducted since the last joint update:28 February 2024: Main and upper stage at the launcher assembly building, Kourou, French GuianaThe main and upper stage for the inaugural flight for Ariane 6 were unloaded at the launcher assembly building and integration started.11 March 2024: First booster for inaugural flight ready, Kourou, French GuianaThe first booster for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight was integrated at the booster finishing facility and moved to the launcher integration building for storage.13 March 2024: Test model disassembled, Kourou French GuianaThe Ariane 6 test model that stood on the launch pad for over a year and was used for qualification of the new rocket has been completely dismantled and the launch pad is now clear and ready to prepare it for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight.14 March 2024: Start of integration of second solid booster at the booster finishing facility, Kourou, French GuianaThe second booster for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight has started to be integrated at the booster finishing facility in French Guiana.15 March 2024: Integration of central core, Kourou, French GuianaThe upper and main stage are being connected to form the central core. The Upper Liquid Propulsion Module (ULPM) and Lower Liquid Propulsion Module (LLPM) were mated horizontally at the Bâtiment d’Assemblage Lanceur (BAL) to form the central core of Ariane 6.Next milestones:Inaugural launch campaignEarly April 2024: second booster for inaugural flight ready, Kourou, French Guiana.The second booster for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight will be integrated at the booster finishing facility.April 2024: Verticalisation of central core, Kourou, French GuianaTransfer of the central core from the launcher assembly building to the launch pad where it will be lifted to its vertical launch position for further assembly.May 2024: Payloads arrive in Kourou, French GuianaThe passengers for the first Ariane 6 are set to arrive, ready for integration in May.First flight periodESA, CNES and ArianeGroup are targeting the first launch of Ariane 6 between 15 June and 31 July 2024.Ariane 6 is an all-new design, created to succeed Ariane 5 as Europe's heavy-lift launch system. With Ariane 6's upper stage restart capability, Europe's launch capability will be tailored to the needs of multiple payload missions, for example to orbit satellite constellations. This autonomous capability to reach Earth orbit and deep space supports Europe's navigation, Earth observation, scientific and security programmes. Ongoing development of Europe's space transportation capabilities is made possible by the sustained dedication of thousands of talented people working in ESA's 22 Member States.
With the new generation of space which is building Ariane 6, French pride!
NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative finds a ride for ELaNa 48 on a new rocket! 🚀CURIE (two 3U CubeSats from @UCBerkeley) will launch on Ariane 6’s first flight from French Guiana!
🛰〰️🛰 ☀ 🕵️♀️🕵️♂️#Ariane6 launches: @NASA's CURIE, a first-of-a-kind radio detective. 🔎🚀This #CubeSat duo will use interferometry to monitor radio waves from the Sun and pinpoint the origin of radio sources in the Universe 🌌https://esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_launches_NASA_s_CURIE_first-of-a-kind_radio_detective
The last hot firing test of the Ariane 6 upper stage was completed successfully on April 12 at the German Aerospace Center DLR P5.2 test stand in Lampoldshausen. The aim of this test was to gather further data for future Ariane 6 missions after its inaugural flight. The test focused on demonstrating operation of the upper stage under non-nominal conditions (deviations from the normal operating conditions expected during flight), notably of the APU (Auxiliary Propulsion Unit) which is unique hardware that allows Ariane 6 to be a versatile launcher and launch a diverse roster of missions. DLR and ArianeGroup teams carried out a test sequence profile that, included loading the stage tanks and preparing itfor flight. The test included three long APU boosts that lasted for a total duration of 66 minutes. This test follows from a test in September 2023 which successfully tested the upper stage’s overall operations for first flight qualification. The success of this last test concludes the hot- firing test campaign on the upper stage.
May 30, 2024On Wednesday April 24, the central body of Ariane 6 was transferred from its assembly building to its launch area, where it was erected in a vertical position. The two boosters of this flight, each containing 142 tonnes of propellant, then joined the central body to which they were connected. Next steps: The arrival of the 6 passengers in May, then integration of the fairing.
Today the first #Ariane6 to launch had its 'dry run'.🚀A chance for the software people and the rocket avionics to flex 💪, the dry run confirms the software, commands, and data connections between the launcher and its control centre are operational.
