European Ariane 6 rocket to be launched into space for the first time on July 9
Published: Wednesday, Jun 5th 2024, 09:51
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The new European launcher Ariane 6 is to fly into space for the first time on July 9 - around four years later than originally planned. As the European Space Agency Esa announced in Berlin on Wednesday, the first launch attempt will take place on July 9 from the European spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana.
"Ariane 6 marks a new era of autonomous, versatile European space travel," said Esa CEO Josef Aschbacher. "With its launch, it will re-establish Europe's independent access to space."
Ariane 6 is the successor to Ariane 5, which was in operation from 1996 until summer 2023. It is designed to launch satellites into space for commercial and public clients and is significantly cheaper than its predecessor. The new rocket is intended to make Europe's space travel more competitive. There are already orders for 30 flights with the rocket, according to Esa. The first commercial flight of an Ariane 6 into space is expected to take place before the end of the year.
Four years late
Esa plans to use Ariane 6, which was originally due to fly into space in 2020, at least until the mid-2030s. The upper stage of the rocket was assembled at the Bremen plant of the space company ArianeGroup. The main stage is being built in Les Mureaux, France. The central body and the payloads for the first flight are already in Kourou. "We are fully focused on completing the very last steps," said ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion.
The launch of Ariane 6 is hugely important for Europe's space sector, which is still in crisis with regard to the launcher sector. The last Ariane 5 lifted off into space last July. Since then, Esa has no longer had the means to launch large satellites into space. Switzerland was also involved in the development and construction of the rocket.
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