30/11/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 30 November, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that the first launch of the Ariane 6 rocket should take place between 15 June and 31 July 2024. A more precise date should be announced in March or April, according to ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. On 23 November, the test involving ignition of the launcher’s Vulcain 2.1 engine and its operation for more than 7 minutes was a “complete success”, according to Mr Aschbacher (see EUROPE 13300/29). Ariane 6 is due to undergo two further tests in “degraded conditions”, on 3 and 15 December. The aim is to check that the launcher’s “reliability and robustness” meet expectations, according to Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup. (CG)