The European Space Agency ( ESA ) is about to conduct the maiden launch ofits fresh Ariane 6 rocket . The young rocket builds on five decades of Ariane launches , and gives Europe a new spaceflight system for launching any character of planet around Earth , to the synodic month , and beyond .
In the words of its operator , Arianespace , the young rocket will provide “ novel story of efficiency and flexibility to meet customers ’ evolve launch services needs across a full chain of commercial-grade and institutional charge . ”
Arianespace is building two versions of the 63 - measure - magniloquent Ariane 6 . Ariane 62 will fly with two strap - on relay link , while the more powerful Ariane 64 will fly with four .
Commenting on the upcoming launch , ESA said : “ This is a big moment for Europe , as the rocket will ensure our guaranteed , self-governing accession to outer space — and all of the science , Earth observation , engineering science developing , and commercial possibilities that it entails . With many features sword Modern to Ariane 6 , we ’ll be able to carry more and take it further , while sustainably disposing of the catapult ’s upper stage to prevent it becoming blank debris . ”
How to watch
Ariane 6 is scheduled to launch from Europe ’s Spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday , 9 July , with a four - hour launch windowpane possible action at 2 p.m. ET .
The launch will bestreamed live on ESA WebTVand the broadcast will begin half an 60 minutes before liftoff . you could also determine it using the video player imbed at the top of this page .
What to expect
Ariane 6 ’s initiative escape will be three form , each of which will demonstrate the various ability of Europe ’s newest heavy - lift rocket .
Phase one will include the launch and early stage of the flight , as well as the breakup of the garden rocket ’s main stage from the upper degree . It also involves the first boost of the upper stage ’s Vinci railway locomotive to take it into an elliptic ambit above Earth .
The 2nd phase will put Ariane 6 ’s newest feature article to the trial — reignition of the upper degree to change Ariane 6 ’s orbit from elliptical to a round orbit . It will then deploy three planet — OOV - Cube , Curium One and Robusta-3A — and activate two onboard experiments , YPSat and Peregrinus .
A few seconds later , the 2d batch of satellites will deploy — 3Cat-4 , ISTSat , and GRBBeta . The last two experiments will also be activated , SIDLOC and Parisat . A third separation command will then deploy CURIE and replicator .
The final phase will push the rocket ’s cryogenic upper stage to its limit to validate its ability to execute in microgravity conditions . Two reentry capsules will also separate from the upper phase and descend to Earth by hold up a fiery reentry through the atmospheric state .
With the mission complete , the upper stage will sunburn up in Earth ’s aura to avoid becominganother while of hazardous space junk .
