On Thursday 4 April, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that Europe’s next rocket, Ariane 6, had “successfully” passed all its qualification tests in preparation for its maiden flight, and that “the full-scale test model has been removed from the launch pad to make way for the real rocket that will go into space”.
The launch simulation included the removal of the mobile gantry, the cooling of the launcher and ground fluid systems, the filling of the upper and central stage tanks with liquid hydrogen (-253°C) and liquid oxygen (-183°C) and, at the end of the test, the successful completion of a launch sequence up to the ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine thrust chamber by the ground system, ESA said in a press release.
The maiden flight of Ariane 6 could take place on 18 July 2024. Ariane 6 was originally scheduled to begin operations in 2023. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)