Artist's view of the Ariane 6 flight model-1
Image: Artist's view of the Ariane 6 flight model-1
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posted by pod_feeder_v2
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Ariane 6 stages having a BAL
Video: 00:01:44
The two central stages for Ariane 6’s first flight are being assembled in the launcher assembly building (BAL) at Europe’s Spaceport. The core stage and the upper stage for Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 are set to fly in the Summer of 2024. Once assembled, the stages will be transferred to the launch pad.
On the launch pad, the two stages will be raised into their vertical launch position inside the mobile assembly building. Here the two boosters for Ariane 6’s first flight will be added and then the payloads will be placed on top and be covered by the fairing – Ariane 6’s nose cone that splits vertically in two.
The stages arrived at Europe’s Spaceport on novel hybrid sail ship Canopée on 21 February after a two-week transatlantic crossing from mainland Europe.
Ariane 6 is an all-new design, created to succeed Ariane 5 as Europe's heavy-lift launch system. With Ariane 6's upper stage restart capability, Europe's launch capability will be tailored to the needs of multiple payload missions, for example to orbit satellite constellations. This autonomous capability to reach Earth orbit and deep space supports Europe's navigation, Earth observation, scientific and security programmes. Ongoing development of Europe's space transportation capabilities is made possible by the sustained dedication of thousands of talented people working in ESA's 22 Member States.
Access the related broadcast quality video material.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Ariane 6 upper composite hoist
Image: Ariane 6 upper composite hoist
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posted by pod_feeder_v2
Ariane 6 transport ship docking
Video: 00:00:53
The upper stage and main stage for the first Ariane 6 launch arrived at the port of Pariacabo in Kourou, French Guiana on the novel ship, Canopée (canopy in French) on 22 February 2024. It is the first custom-built transporter to use sails, reducing emissions and saving on fuel by up to 30%, and on this trip, it has travelled for 10 days covering over 7000 km.
The hybrid-propulsion vessel is 121 m long and has 37 m tall sails. Canopée rotates continuously between stop-offs to load each Ariane 6 stage and other parts and ship them across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe’s spaceport.
On this trip, Canopée brought the central core for Ariane 6’s first flight. Having collected the upper stage from Bremen, Germany, Canopée moved on to Le Havre, France, to load the main stage of Ariane 6.
The next-generation cargo ship has been designed for ArianeGroup to meet the complex requirements of Ariane 6 transport – the stages and engines of Ariane 6 are high-tech equipment that require delicate care during transport.
Canopée’s structure is tailored to carry large, fragile loads as well as navigate the shallow Kourou river to Pariacabo harbour. From here the various Ariane 6 components are offloaded and transported by road to the new Ariane 6 launch vehicle assembly building just a few kilometres away.
Here, the launcher stages are unpacked and installed on the assembly line for integration, and finally, liftoff.
Access the related broadcast quality video material.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Ariane 6 transport ship docking
Video: 00:00:53
The upper stage and main stage for the first Ariane 6 launch arrived at the port of Pariacabo in Kourou, French Guiana on the novel ship, Canopée (canopy in French) on 22 February 2024. It is the first custom-built transporter to use sails, reducing emissions and saving on fuel by up to 30%, and on this trip, it has travelled for 10 days covering over 7000 km.
The hybrid-propulsion vessel is 121 m long and has 37 m tall sails. Canopée rotates continuously between stop-offs to load each Ariane 6 stage and other parts and ship them across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe’s spaceport.
On this trip, Canopée brought the central core for Ariane 6’s first flight. Having collected the upper stage from Bremen, Germany, Canopée moved on to Le Havre, France, to load the main stage of Ariane 6.
The next-generation cargo ship has been designed for ArianeGroup to meet the complex requirements of Ariane 6 transport – the stages and engines of Ariane 6 are high-tech equipment that require delicate care during transport.
Canopée’s structure is tailored to carry large, fragile loads as well as navigate the shallow Kourou river to Pariacabo harbour. From here the various Ariane 6 components are offloaded and transported by road to the new Ariane 6 launch vehicle assembly building just a few kilometres away.
Here, the launcher stages are unpacked and installed on the assembly line for integration, and finally, liftoff.
Access the related broadcast quality video material.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Ariane 6 ready for unloading
Image: Ariane 6 ready for unloading
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Rocket on the move – Ariane 6 main stage transport timelapse
Video: 00:01:27
A timelapse of the main stage for the first Ariane 6 rocket as it left the ArianeGroup assembly hall in Les Mureaux, France, on 6 February 2024.
The main stage was constructed in Les Mureaux, France, at ArianeGroup’s assembly hall. After liftoff the main stage for Ariane 6 will fire its Vulcain 2.1 engine and provide steering for eight minutes on the rocket’s ascent into space.
The upper and main stage form the central core of Ariane 6 and are transported to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana by ship. The two stages are connected horizontally at before being transport the final few kilometres to the launch area and lifted upright.
Once upright, two boosters will be added for Ariane 6’s first flight; they are already in French Guiana. Lastly, the upper composite fairing – a nosecone that splits vertically in two – and the payloads will be attached on the launch pad.
Ariane 6 is an all-new design, created to succeed Ariane 5 as Europe's heavy-lift launch system. With Ariane 6's upper stage restart capability, Europe's launch capability will be tailored to the needs of multiple payload missions, for example to orbit satellite constellations. This autonomous capability to reach Earth orbit and deep space supports Europe's navigation, Earth observation, scientific and security programmes. Ongoing development of Europe's space transportation capabilities is made possible by the sustained dedication of thousands of talented people working in ESA's 22 Member States.
Access the related broadcast quality video material.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Rocket on the move – Ariane 6 upper stage transport timelapse
Video: 00:02:47
A timelapse of the upper stage for the first Ariane 6 rocket as it left the ArianeGroup assembly hall in Bremen, Germany on 31 January 2024.
The upper stages for Ariane 6 are assembled in Bremen where the fuel tanks, Vinci engine and unique Auxiliary Power Unit are assembled to provide fuel, pressure, electricity and propulsion to put satellites into their required orbit.
The upper and main stage form the central core of Ariane 6 and are transported to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana by ship. The two stages are connected horizontally at before being transport the final few kilometres to the launch area and lifted upright.
Once upright, two boosters will be added for Ariane 6’s first flight; they are already in French Guiana. Lastly, the upper composite fairing – a nosecone that splits vertically in two – and the payloads will be attached on the launch pad.
Ariane 6 is an all-new design, created to succeed Ariane 5 as Europe's heavy-lift launch system. With Ariane 6's upper stage restart capability, Europe's launch capability will be tailored to the needs of multiple payload missions, for example to orbit satellite constellations. This autonomous capability to reach Earth orbit and deep space supports Europe's navigation, Earth observation, scientific and security programmes. Ongoing development of Europe's space transportation capabilities is made possible by the sustained dedication of thousands of talented people working in ESA's 22 Member States.
Access the related broadcast quality video material.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Ariane 6 test model cryogenic system disconnection
Video: 00:01:18
Teams from ESA, France’s space agency CNES and ArianeGroup successfully completed the disconnection and retraction of the Ariane 6 cryogenic systems on 30 January 2024.
These operations mark the start of dismantling the Ariane 6 test model to make way for its first launch. The combined test phase for Ariane 6 using propellants is now over and the European rocket is on track for its inaugural launch.
The test model that is on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, stands 62 m high. It is exactly the same as the ‘production model’ Ariane 6 rockets that will soon be launched, except that its boosters are not tested as part of the complete rocket.
For this test, the fuel lines for the upper stage and main stage were disconnected. The yellow arms support the fuel lines that deliver liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to the upper stage that is powered by the Vinci orbital engine.
Instead of simply disconnecting the lines, the Ariane 6 teams approached the operations as more tests, or rehearsals, allowing the teams another chance to practice ahead of launch. Seconds before a liftoff, the cryogenic fuelling arms retract from the upper part of the rocket, removing the fuelling lines. The main stage is fuelled from the bottom of the rocket and these lines were also disconnected in the test.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
ESA’s future of space travel
Video: 00:02:26
For 40 years, ESA has been shaping the future in space, while delivering crucial access to space for Europe. That work continues, as brand-new rockets are set to take flight: some reusable, some carbon-neutral, with hybrid propulsion, two and three stages, small, large, crewed and uncrewed, to Earth orbit and deep space, the journey continues.
All of these missions are currently in development in Europe and will ensure our continued ability to explore beyond our own home, while looking back to learn more about it.
This, is the future of space exploration.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Hot fire – Space Team Europe
Video: 00:13:16
Join the people working on Ariane 6 – preparing for the combined hot-fire test that saw Europe’s next heavy-lift rocket fire its main engine for over seven minutes. Space Team Europe invites you behind the scenes at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to learn about one of the last tests before launch.
ESA’s new Ariane 6 rocket passed a major full-scale rehearsal today in preparation for its first flight, when teams on the ground went through a complete launch countdown followed by a seven-minute full firing of the core stage’s engine, as it would fire on a launch into space.
It took just over two hours and required teams of people and delicate operations to load the rocket’s central core with fuel. The filling operations were performed during a long countdown that included other qualification tests. For fidelity and to guarantee launcher stability, the upper stage tanks were also fuelled – even though the upper stage engine only kicks in once in orbit after separation from the main stage and so was not fired during this ground test.
The launch pad – operated by France’s space agency CNES – used its water deluge system to temper the heat from the engine.
The engine-fire trial reenacted how the Ariane 6 core stage will fire during a normal flight into space. Once complete the main engine would shut down and the core stage would separate from the upper stage, which would then take over propulsion and complete its mission.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Hyguane: green hydrogen for Ariane 6, Europe's Spaceport and more
Image:
The start of a more sustainable production facility to create hydrogen fuel for Ariane 6 – Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket – is underway.
Project HYGUANE – a portmanteau of the French words for hydrogen, French Guiana and the local Iguanas – is a €40.5M investment in a solar farm and distribution systems, being designed to be allowed to easily expand in the future.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Hyguane signing ceremony at the Jupiter Control Room in French Guiana
Image:
The start of a more sustainable production facility to create hydrogen fuel for Ariane 6 – Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket – is underway.
Project HYGUANE – a portmanteau of the French words for hydrogen, French Guiana and the local Iguanas – is a €40.5M investment in a solar farm, distribution systems and is being designed to be allowed to easily expand in the future.
After three years of studies, the project started on 21 December 2023 with the signing of the consortium agreement between the parties involved: four companies – Air Liquide, SARA, MT-Aerospace and BEBLUE; three universities – Université de Guyane, Université de Liège, Université Libre de Bruxelles and two institutions – ESA and CNES.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Signing ceremony kicks off start of Hyguane green hydrogen project
Image:
The start of a more sustainable production facility to create hydrogen fuel for Ariane 6 – Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket – is underway.
Project HYGUANE – a portmanteau of the French words for hydrogen, French Guiana and the local Iguanas – is a €40.5M investment in a solar farm, distribution systems and is being designed to be allowed to easily expand in the future.
After three years of studies, the project started on 21 December 2023 with the signing of the consortium agreement between the parties involved: four companies – Air Liquide, SARA, MT-Aerospace and BEBLUE; three universities – Université de Guyane, Université de Liège, Université Libre de Bruxelles and two institutions – ESA and CNES.
#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2
Ariane 6 smoke during combined test loading 3
Image: Ariane 6 smoke during combined test loading 3
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posted by pod_feeder_v2
