17/05/2019 (Agence Europe) – On 14 May, the European Space Agency (ESA) commissioned ArianeGroup and MT Aerospace to develop a prototype called Phoebus ( for 'Prototype of a Highly Optimized Black Upper Stage') to improve the upper stage of the future European Ariane 6 rocket, according to the specialized site Space News, in an article published on Wednesday, 15 May. The objective: to replace the aluminium structure with carbon composite materials in order to increase the payload to be put into orbit by 2 tonnes and significantly reduce costs. The prototype will be tested in 2021, according to the newspaper. The ESA has decided to reallocate 70 million to high-level lightweight technologies. According to a recent French study, Ariane 6 is at high risk of not being able to face increasingly tough international competition, particularly from the United States (see EUROPE 12190/24). (PH)