Tag: Ariane 6
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Arianespace signs Eutelsat as first commercial customer for new Ariane 6 rocket
Artist’s concept of an Ariane 6 rocket, in a configuration with four strap-on solid rocket boosters. Credit: ESA Eutelsat is the first commercial company to commit to launching on Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket, under a five-launch agreement announced Monday in conjunction with fresh contracts for Arianespace to haul a French spy satellite and a…
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Powerful new European solid-fueled rocket motor aces first test-firing
European engineers test-fired the world’s most powerful present-day single-segment solid rocket booster Monday in French Guiana, clearing a major development hurdle for the Vega-C and Ariane 6 launchers set for debuts in 2019 and 2020. Mounted on a test stand over a flame trench carved out of bedrock at the European-run spaceport in South America,…
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Arianespace procures first batch of upgraded Vega-C rockets, preps for last Ariane 5 order
This artist’s illustration shows the lineup of European rockets currently flying or scheduled to debut in the next few years. From left to right: Vega, Vega-C, Ariane 5 ECA, Ariane 62 and Ariane 64. Credit: ESA–David Ducros, Jacky Huart, 2016 Arianespace has split its third order of Vega rockets from Italy’s Avio between old and…
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Six firm launch contracts booked with Arianespace
Artist’s illustration of the Ariane 62 rocket. Credit: ESA–David Ducros, 2016 Arianespace has received its first two confirmed launch contracts for Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket, and the company recently announced four more launch bookings to loft communications and weather satellites into orbit aboard Ariane 5 and Soyuz boosters from French Guiana. Two Ariane 6…
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Brexit raises question mark over UK’s role in some European space projects
SSTL engineers working in Guildford, England, test a navigation payload for Europe’s Galileo program. Credit: SSTL The future participation of major segments of Britain’s space industry in Europe’s Galileo navigation system and Copernicus environmental network, two multibillion-dollar flagship programs with dozens of satellites, is sure to be a significant part of negotiations as the UK…
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Airbus Safran promotes launch record ahead of Ariane 6 entering production
Airbus Safran Launchers, which now owns the majority stake in Arianespace, has issued a statement of intent, promoting Ariane 5’s track record as it prepares to enter the production phase of its next-generation launcher, the Ariane 6. The new rocket is set to become operational in 2020. Ariane Transition: Airbus Safran Launchers is looking towards…
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Ariane 5 goes on test run after launching two satellites
The Ariane 5 rocket lifted off at 2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT; 5:30 p.m. French Guiana time) with the Sky Muster 2 and GSAT 18 communications satellites. This view of the launch comes from the Toucan observation deck about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the pad. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG –…
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Ariane 5 goes on test run after launching two satellites
The Ariane 5 rocket lifted off at 2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT; 5:30 p.m. French Guiana time) with the Sky Muster 2 and GSAT 18 communications satellites. This view of the launch comes from the Toucan observation deck about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the pad. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG –…
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Ariane 6 rocket holding to schedule for 2020 maiden flight
Artist’s illustration of the Ariane 64 rocket version, with four solid rocket boosters. Credit: ESA–David Ducros, 2016 Europe’s top rocket contractor is pressing ahead with development of the Ariane 6 rocket, a versatile launcher with half the cost of Europe’s current Ariane 5 booster, keeping the new vehicle on track for its 2020 debut. The…
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Arianespace aiming to compete via efficiency before reusability
Space industry stalwart Arianespace believes it will continue to compete in the global launch services market by focusing on innovation and efficiency with its upcoming Ariane 6 and Vega C launch systems. Although a level of reusability may be on the cards in the future, the company wants to focus on reducing costs while monitoring…