Tag: Ariane 6
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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…
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SpaceX hopes to sell used Falcon 9 boosters for as low as $40 million
The Falcon 9 first stage booster recovered after a Dec. 21 launch at Cape Canaveral is seen inside SpaceX’s hangar in Florida. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX intends to cut the price of a Falcon 9 rocket launch by up to 30 percent when flying with reused first stage boosters, an achievement the company still hopes to…
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Q&A with Stéphane Israël, chairman and CEO of Arianespace
Become a member to access Spaceflight Now’s bonus content, including more Q&As like this one with space industry leaders, a video archive and other extras. File photo of Stephane Israel, Arianespace’s chairman and CEO. Credit: European Commission Arianespace chief executive Stéphane Israël recently discussed his company’s outlook with Spaceflight Now, touching on the light-class Vega…
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Launcher contracts signify shift in Europe’s rocket industry
Artist’s concepts of the Vega C (left) and Ariane 6 (right) rockets. Credit: ESA–J. Huart and D. Ducros, 2015 Europe’s next-generation launcher family has moved a step closer to reality with the signature of nearly $3.8 billion in contracts for development of the Ariane 6 rocket and an upgraded version of the lightweight Vega booster.…