The European Space Agency’s (ESA) giant Ariane 6 rocket remains firmly on track for a test launch in June-July 2024. The test flight confirmation came from the Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force, which consists of top management of ESA, as the overall Ariane 6 procuring entity and launch system architect, of the French space agency […]
Government members of the European Space Agency (ESA) have agreed to fund an extra €340 million per year to Arianespace for its planned Ariane 6 rocket currently in development. The cash is needed to pay for the non-activity of Arianespace because its new rocket is extremely late. An inaugural test flight for Ariane 6 is […]
SpaceX has signed a deal with the European Space Agency (ESA) over potential satellite launches, according to the WSJ. Normally – in fact almost always – ESA uses Arianespace rockets to launch its scientific and governmental missions. However, there are no Arianespace launches available until 2025. The first test flight of Arianespace’s new Ariane 6 […]
Josef Aschbacher, Director General at the European Space Agency (ESA), says that planned pre-launch testing schedule for the new Ariane 6 rocket has been amended in order to “optimise” the timetable. Aschbacher said: “In order to optimise the #Ariane6 testing schedule, the test sequence has been inverted. This allows us to anticipate the launch rehearsal […]
Airbus and Safran, who between them control ArianeGroup, are asking for an additional €210 million – over and above the €140 million a year it already receives – in order to operate the Arianespace rocket system. The news was revealed by Europe in Space and France’s La Tribune newspaper. The problem for ArianeGroup is that […]
Ariane 6, the giant replacement rocket for the European Space Agency (ESA), is already delayed until the end of 2024. Now the ESA says that is medium-lift rocket, Vega-C, is also delayed until Q4/2024. The news means that Europe doesn’t have a working rocket to launch commercial, scientific or military satellites, other than two remaining […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) says that a September test firing of the Ariane 6’s powerful engine went well. However, ESA’s DG Josef Aschbacher says the agency has cancelled a planned October follow-on test because of an “anomaly”. “Ariane 6 task force update: great data and results from the hot-fire September tests for #Ariane6 both […]
RIDE! is something of a clearing house for satellite manufacturers. Arianespace has signed a contract with the startup RIDE! to integrate its launchers into their on-demand digital launch platform. Founded in 2021, RIDE! offers a service that allows satellite manufacturers and operators to easily identify available slots on launchers based on their satellite’s technical characteristics […]
Intelsat has signed a launch contract for their Intelsat IS-45 satellite. The flight will see the Intelsat craft sharing the cargo bay with a co-passenger, as yet unnamed. The launch target is H1 2026. This year marks the fourth decade since Arianespace began its storied relationship with Intelsat. Arianespace launched Intelsat 507 aboard an Ariane 1 […]
In December 2022 an Italian-made Vega-C rocket failed to launch a pair of satellites for Airbus. The rocket was subsequently grounded while further tests took place. A test firing of the rocket’s engine has just failed. Avio SpA is the rocket’s builder and the engine firing test was supposed last 97 seconds but the engine […]