Europe’s powerful Ariane 6 rocket to make long-delayed debut on July 9

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With a scheduled launch date officially on the books, ESA and its partners are completing the final steps for liftoff, including a fueling test and practice countdown known as a wet dress rehearsal, which is slated for June 18. 

Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket still has to complete several milestones before it can be cleared for its debut flight. (Image credit: ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut)

“This flight will mark the culmination of years of development and testing by the teams at ArianeGroup and its partners across Europe,” Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup, said in the statement. “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.” 

While the inaugural Ariane 6 launch is primarily a demonstration flight, it will carry various payloads, which have already been integrated on the rocket’s payload carrier. If successful, Ariane 6 could launch on a second flight by the end of the year, with the goal to eventually complete about 10 launches each year. 

Source link : https://www.space.com/esa-ariane-6-rocket-first-launch-july-9

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Publish date : 2024-06-08 14:00:00

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