Europe’s highly anticipated Ariane 6 rocket is preparing for its inaugural launch next week, carrying the continent’s aspirations for independent space access and competitiveness against SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk.
After facing several delays over the past four years, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) most powerful rocket is scheduled to take off from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 3:00 pm (1800 GMT) on July 9.
With the last launch of its predecessor, Ariane 5, taking place a year ago, Europe has been relying on competitors like SpaceX for satellite launches and space missions.
The site in Kourou was previously used for launches by Russia’s Soyuz rockets before being withdrawn following the Ukraine invasion in 2022. Europe’s Vega-C light launcher was also grounded after a launch failure, leading to further delays in the Ariane 6 launch.
ESA chief Josef Aschbacher explained, “Everything that could go wrong went wrong,” emphasizing the importance of Ariane 6 for Europe to have independent space access.
The rocket is significant for Europe’s space industry, valued at 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion), as it aims to provide essential capabilities for Europe’s space endeavors.
Despite the challenges faced during the development of Ariane 6, a successful “wet dress rehearsal” last month boosted confidence in the upcoming launch.
Ariane 6 is designed to deliver satellites to geostationary orbit and constellations at varying altitudes, using the Vinci engine to deploy satellites before the upper stage falls into the Pacific Ocean as a measure to prevent space debris.
The rocket’s first launch will feature two boosters with plans for a more powerful four-booster version next year, although it lacks reusability like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has criticized Ariane 6 for its lack of reusability, with European officials defending their design based on the rocket’s intended number of launches.
The rocket is set to conduct nine launches per year initially, with plans for commercial flights and missions in the coming years.
Despite the booming space business, Ariane 6 faces challenges in profitability, with financial support secured for initial launches from ESA member states.
The rocket already has an order book for multiple missions, including deploying Amazon’s Kuiper constellation of internet satellites.
However, just before the inaugural flight, Europe’s EUMETSAT opted to use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 instead of the European Ariane 6, leading to disappointment among European space agencies and providers.
With fierce competition in the space market, the success of Ariane 6 will be crucial for Europe’s space sovereignty and presence in the industry.
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