After an initial test of the new Ariane 6 launcher on Friday 1 September, which went well even though it will take several days to make a full analysis, a new test will take place on Tuesday 5 September.
On 1 September, Ariane 6 fired its two upper stage engines to simulate how they will work together at the DLR aerospace agency’s engine test centre in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
On Tuesday, the combined tests will be similar to the test on 18 July, but will end with 4 seconds of stabilised operation of the Vulcain 2.1 engine. A new test will be carried out on 3 October and should conclude with 470 seconds (around 8 minutes) of stabilised operation of the Vulcain 2.1 engine. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), this test will cover the entire flight phase of the core stage and will contribute to the ‘ready-to-fly’ qualification of the main stage.
The Director General of ESA, Josef Aschbacher, felt that things were on track for the launch of Ariane 6 “not too late” in 2024. A more precise date could be set after the test at the beginning of October. Ariane 6 was originally scheduled to begin operations in 2023. It cost around €4 billion to develop.
The Director General of the ESA pointed out that access to space was a “must for Europe”, which explains why so much attention is being paid to the development of the Ariane 6 launcher.
Mr Aschbacher pointed out that the Space Summit on 6 and 7 November in Seville would focus on launchers, climate change and sustainability, and exploration. “The launchers are connected to everything else”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)