About two months ago, during the Paris International Aerospace Exhibition, during a informal chat with French President Macron had turned out to be the one new European space rocket Ariane 6 will only be able to fly in 2024 and not in 2023 as claimed in the past. This information has been reduced and it seemed possible, difficult as it might be, that the goal could actually be achieved.
Now we have the confirmation fromESA and of it Arianespace that the new generation European heavy-duty truck will not in fact make its debut until next year, adding further delays to the months that have already elapsed. Managing Europe’s access to space has been very complex in recent years and has become crucial following the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
The Ariane 6 space rocket will not make its debut until 2024
The new space rocket should have debuted months ago so as not to have to leave Europe without one heavy carrier The end of production and launches of the previous Ariane 5 have been discontinued. Unfortunately, delays have meant that Europe does not currently have, and will not have, a space rocket capable of carrying large mass payloads in the coming months.
The announcement was made within a press release joint ESA/Arianespace, where it is clearly written that it will be found “A launch timeframe for Ariane 6’s maiden flight in 2024”. As written in the past, currently ESA It depended on the United States, and SpaceX in particular, to launch the Euclid space telescope into orbit, among other things.
The Falcon 9 rockets are exceptionally powerful and thanks to the reuse of the first stage they can achieve an enviable launch rate. However, leaving a strategic sector like space transport in the hands of a foreign nation (even an ally) is a decision that can only be tolerated in the short term. The main purpose ofEurope and from ESA It should consist in developing an aerospace sector that does not necessarily have to resort to the United States, Russia or India for its launches.
In the past we have seen European launches with the Russian Soyuz launcher or, after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, OneWeb (Indo-British company) satellite launches with the Indian launcher LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3). ESA and Europa are currently locked to both medium and heavy aircraft carriers. Efforts to develop reusable vectors continue, but investment seems too small to result in anything concrete in the short term.
A press conference will be held in early September to provide more information on the airline’s developments. We currently know that the launch system was tested at the Kourou Cosmodrome in French Guiana in July. The main stage tank was filled and some trials of ground control and command systems were conducted.
The Ariane 6 rocket Fully assembled, it was initially displayed outside the mobile building, although no short film could be made static fire of the Vulcain 2.1 engine. This test will instead be held on August 29th and will not be shown publicly (decision he made). “turn up one’s nose” to more than one enthusiast/journalist).
One will be held on September 1st static fire the Oberbühne (in Lampoldshausen), there will be one on September 26th static fire durable Vulcain 2.1 engine. A press conference will be held on September 4th, which will provide some useful information to understand what will happen in the coming months. To make matters worse, the medium-weight carrier Vega-C is no longer available after the failed launch in December last year. A change of strategy with the arrival of new realities and greater availability of funds should be a priority for Europe not to fall behind “New Space Race” This allows for the generation of economic revenue, but also the provision of scientific and military support.
