Partial Success : Ariane 62 VA262 maiden flight - 9 July 2024 (19:00 UTC)

[russianhalo117]

Would this be the equivalent to an American Dry Dress Rehearsal (DDR)?

https://twitter.com/esa_transport/status/1796577195676053565

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.

Yes

[Mamut]

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_joint_update_report_21_May_2024
June 18: Ariane 6 flight model-1 wet dress rehearsal, Kourou, French Guiana

[hektor]

https://twitter.com/DLR_SpaceAgency/status/1798254753958568270
We have a launch date!
Google translated

The first start of the #Ariane6 takes place on
9.7.2024 from the European spaceport in Kourou. 🚀

[hektor]

https://twitter.com/jarimakinen/status/1798260210420904216

[jacqmans]

Ariane 6 inaugural launch targeted for 9 July


The first launch of Ariane 6 is targeted for 9 July 2024 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced at the ILA Berlin Air Show today.

Josef Aschbacher was joined by the Ariane 6 Task Force partners, ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion, CNES CEO Philippe Baptiste and Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël on stage to announce this milestone.

Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR, was also present for the occasion.

Ariane 6 is Europe’s new heavy lift launch vehicle replacing its extremely successful predecessor, Ariane 5. Modular and agile, Ariane 6 has a reignitable upper stage allowing it to launch multiple missions on different orbits on a single flight.

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said: “Ariane 6 marks a new era of autonomous, versatile European space travel. This powerful rocket is the culmination of many years of dedication and ingenuity from thousands across Europe, and as it launches, it will re-establish Europe’s independent access to space. I am glad to announce that the first launch attempt will be on 9 July. I would like to thank the teams on the ground for their tireless hard work, teamwork and dedication in this last stretch of the inaugural launch campaign. Ariane 6 is Europe’s rocket for the needs of today, adaptable to our future ambitions.”

For the development of Ariane 6, ESA is the Launch System Architect working with prime contractor ArianeGroup for the development of the launch vehicle and with CNES for the development of the ground segment. ESA is the operator responsible for the inaugural flight while for subsequent flights Arianespace is the launch service provider that markets and operates the Ariane 6 launcher for institutional and commercial customers to launch a variety of missions into orbit.

"The announcement of the scheduled date for Ariane 6’s first flight puts us on the home stretch of the launch campaign and we are fully engaged in completing the very last steps. This flight will mark the culmination of years of development and testing by the teams at ArianeGroup and its partners across Europe. It will pave the way for commercial operations and a significant ramp-up over the next two years. Ariane 6 is a powerful, versatile and scalable launcher that will ensure Europe’s autonomous access to space,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup.

“Once again, the announcement of the inaugural flight date of Ariane 6 from the Guiana Space Center is a crucial step towards European sovereignty in terms of access to space. Reaching this date was made possible thanks to the colossal efforts of all entities in the home stretch. I would like to pay tribute the collective achievement of overcoming the pitfalls over the months. Now to the final adjustments before launch.  Europe in space is ready for take-off : we're all united behind Ariane 6!” exclaimed Philippe Baptiste, CEO of CNES. 

“With 30 missions in our order book, Ariane 6 has already gained the trust of institutional and commercial customers. We are preparing to make Ariane 6’s second launch by the end of the year, followed by a steady rise to around ten launches a year once we reach cruising speed. It represents a splendid challenge for Arianespace and our partners”, added Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.

At Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, many and varied payloads have been integrated on Ariane 6’s payload carrier.  The last major milestone before launch is the wet dress rehearsal. Once this activity has been completed, the Ariane 6 Task Force will provide a joint update on the inaugural flight.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Media kit is now available: https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/STS/ariane-6_media-kit_english.pdf

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/esa_transport/status/1799137216968663403

👋Bye bye Ariane 6 passengers, next time we see you will be in space!
Yesterday, the payloads that are flying first on Europe's new rocket #Ariane6 were enclosed inside their protective fairing – Ariane's nosecone that splits into two after liftoff.

The fairing is 14 m tall and yesterday's operations complete the upper part of the rocket.

Next: to the launch pad where Ariane 6 awaits.
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/06/Ariane_6_fairing_closure

[deltaV]

Ariane 6 inaugural launch targeted for 9 July

That's within the June 15 - July 31 window that ESA announced late last year (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/12/ariane6-2024-launch/). No schedule slip in over 6 months is pretty good for a maiden rocket launch.

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1799142302167789973

@DutchSpace
As the first Ariane 6 launch is getting closer, how about some closer views of the payload...

Astrofein deployer in the foreground, I hope the cause for the 2 failures at VV23 has been found
Also: Nyx ​​Bikini is not (yet?) on these pictures.

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1799142838787080396

And special mention for "Bikini" a reentry demonstrator

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/esa/status/1800136926743412917

📷 Latest views of #Ariane6 #VA262 launcher preparation, including FM1 fairing and payload encapsulation.

More pics: 👉https://flic.kr/s/aHsk6zMs15

(pics: ESA/M. Pédoussaut)

[Mamut]

Successful wet dress rehearsal
https://twitter.com/ArianeGroup/status/1804197568315879491

[DT1]

25/06/2024 11:00 CEST
Media briefing on Ariane 6’s inaugural flight LIVE
ESA WEB TV ONE

Please follow latest up-dates on Ariane 6's inaugural with the participation of representatives from ESA, CNES, ArianeGroup and Arianespace.

Duration 00:45:00

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/ESA_Web_TV

[DT1]

25/06/2024 11:00 CEST
Media briefing on Ariane 6’s inaugural flight LIVE
ESA WEB TV ONE

Please follow latest up-dates on Ariane 6's inaugural with the participation of representatives from ESA, CNES, ArianeGroup and Arianespace.

Duration 00:45:00

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/ESA_Web_TV

Just in from this media briefing:
The launch window on 09 July 2024 extends from 20:00 to 23:00 h CEST (from 15:00 to 18:00 h local time in Kourou).

[zubenelgenubi edit/add: = 18:00 to 21:00 UTC]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Per https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane the actual launch window will be 18:00 - 22:00 UTC.

Official launch webcast:

[jcm]

 Thierry Vallee of CNES posted on twitter pictures of the NOTAM zones, including the Pacific reentry area for the upper stage.
Does anyone have the actual NOTAM with the numerical coords for that Pacific area?

 https://twitter.com/thivallee/status/1808829427448483955

[bolun]

Ariane 6 first flight tracking infographic

A map of Earth showing the tracking stations that will be used to keep in contact with the first Ariane 6 mission during it's three-hour flight.

Related article: Tracking Ariane 6 as it soars over the Azores

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/06/Ariane_6_first_flight_tracking_infographic

Image credit: ESA

[Ken the Bin]

Thierry Vallee of CNES posted on twitter pictures of the NOTAM zones, including the Pacific reentry area for the upper stage.
Does anyone have the actual NOTAM with the numerical coords for that Pacific area?

Not NOTAMs, but here are the NGA marine hazard notices, listed in the order received. The first one came out a few days ago, the rest came out today. Two are Space Debris. The other two are combined Rocket Launching and Space Debris, and are the same notice for two different Navigational Areas.

The third notice is the only one listed as being for the Pacific, so it's presumably the one you want.

Note: I don't normally follow Arianespace launches, but I am following this one.

011135Z JUL 24
NAVAREA IV 760/24(24).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   1750Z TO 2230Z DAILY 09 JUL THRU 08 AUG
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   05-23.00N 052-54.00W, 05-51.00N 052-48.00W,
   05-50.00N 052-20.00W, 05-13.00N 052-41.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 082330Z AUG 24.

040951Z JUL 24
HYDROLANT 1469/24(24,51).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
DNC 01, DNC 08, DNC 14.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   1700Z TO 2230Z DAILY 09 JUL THRU 08 AUG
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   12-10.00N 052-38.00W, 09-35.00N 047-00.00W,
   05-16.00N 052-48.00W.
2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   1801Z TO 2317Z DAILY 09 JUL THRU 08 AUG
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 24-19.00N 041-34.00W, 23-35.00N 040-27.00W,
       20-29.00N 042-59.00W, 21-18.00N 044-08.00W.
   B. 27-06.00N 039-13.00W, 26-19.00N 038-06.00W,
       23-35.00N 040-27.00W, 24-19.00N 041-34.00W.
   C. 33-41.00N 034-39.00W, 32-18.00N 032-23.00W,
       26-19.00N 038-06.00W, 27-06.00N 039-13.00W.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 090017Z AUG 24.//

040951Z JUL 24
HYDROPAC 2310/24(83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2046Z TO 0202Z DAILY 09 JUL THRU 08 AUG
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   38-05.00S 122-25.00W, 38-49.00S 120-59.00W,
   50-54.00S 133-59.00W, 50-02.00S 135-27.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 090302Z AUG 24.//

040951Z JUL 24
NAVAREA IV 779/24(24,51).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
DNC 01, DNC 08, DNC 14.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   1700Z TO 2230Z DAILY 09 JUL THRU 08 AUG
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   12-10.00N 052-38.00W, 09-35.00N 047-00.00W,
   05-16.00N 052-48.00W.
2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   1801Z TO 2317Z DAILY 09 JUL THRU 08 AUG
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 24-19.00N 041-34.00W, 23-35.00N 040-27.00W,
       20-29.00N 042-59.00W, 21-18.00N 044-08.00W.
   B. 27-06.00N 039-13.00W, 26-19.00N 038-06.00W,
       23-35.00N 040-27.00W, 24-19.00N 041-34.00W.
   C. 33-41.00N 034-39.00W, 32-18.00N 032-23.00W,
       26-19.00N 038-06.00W, 27-06.00N 039-13.00W.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 090017Z AUG 24.//

[StraumliBlight]

Ariane 6 first flight timeline

The first flight of Ariane 6 will have three phases, each of which will demonstrate the launcher’s various abilities:

Phase 1 (events 1-5): From ground to orbit

The first phase of Ariane 6’s flight will launch the rocket off Earth and into space with the thrust from the main stage powered by the Vulcain engine together with the force from the two powerful P120C boosters. Phase 1 includes the separation of the main stage from the upper stage and the first boost of the upper stage’s Vinci engine, which inserts it and its passengers into an elliptical orbit 300 by 700 km above Earth.

Phase 2 (events 6-9): Upper stage reignition and satellite deployment

The next phase is when Ariane 6’s newest feature is put to the test: reignition of the upper stage. In phase 2, the Vinci engine will re-fire, changing Ariane 6’s orbit from elliptical to circular. This will be followed by the deployment of the rocket’s eight satellites and the activation of its five onboard experiments.

Phase 3 (events 9-12): Tech demos, deorbiting and capsule separation

The final phase in Ariane 6’s inaugural flight will be to push the cryogenic upper stage to its limits and validate its ability to perform under microgravity conditions. The final phase will initiate the controlled deorbit of the upper stage back through Earth’s atmosphere over the South Pacific ‘NEMO point’, to prevent it from becoming space debris. Moments later, the two reentry capsules onboard will separate from the upper stage, and all three will make their safe descent back home.