Arianespace has been beset by delays in the development of its new Ariane 6 rocket. The company blames Covid and the pandemic’s affect on component production for the new rocket. Arianespace has said that the new rocket will launch around Q4 2023. The launch company says it will take up to 2026 to ramp up […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) has admitted that the delayed launched of Arianespace’s new Ariane 6 rocket is not now likely to make its debut flight for another year. The new hope is for a launch in Q4 2023. Ariane 6 was first planned to launch in July 2020. Covid hasn’t helped, but with the […]
Arianespace has been silent on any launch delays for its important Ariane 6 rocket. However, the director general of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher, told the BBC that the new rocket will not fly until some time next year. Critics have suggested that Aschbacher did not attempt to disguise his words with phrases like […]
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is facing some urgent requests to authorise delays for satellite operators and their launch plans. The reasons are mostly caused by the pandemic and the impact of staff shortages at assorted satellite builders and their suppliers of components. The ITU has to decide whether to approve some extreme delays from […]
ArianeGroup Chief Executive André-Hubert Roussel has said the Ariane family of rocket launchers would be fully reusable starting by the end of this decade. His comments follow on from French Economics Minister Bruno Le Maire who has been highly critical of the Arianespace’s current use of non-reusable rockets, including the giant Ariane 5 and smaller […]
Arianespace’s much-needed new Ariane 6 rocket will be available for launches in 2022. Arianespace’s CEO Stéphane Israël, speaking at the Euroconsult World Satellite Business Week in Paris, told delegates that the giant rocket would make its full test flight in the second-half of 2022. He was not specific as to when. However, there would be […]
A major event took place in French Guiana when the launch complex for the upcoming Ariane 6 rockets was inaugurated. Dubbed ELA-4, the massive facility cost well over its budgeted €600 million. The project is also some eight years late. The project was managed by the French national space agency CNES. The site is now […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) has given its approval on Europe’s exploitation of the new Ariane 6 rocket as well as the smaller Vega-C launcher. A meeting on September 6th saw approval given for a roadmap for new and innovative space transportation solutions for the next decade and a framework for associated short cycle demonstrations. […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking ahead and beyond the ‘next generation’ Ariane 6 family of rockets and has awarded contracts worth in total $182 million to prime contractor ArianeGroup in order for new cryogenic engines to be developed. While ArianeGroup will coordinate activity there is also business for OHB-backed MT Aerospace as well […]
Despite being up against fierce competition from the likes of SpaceX which is launching rockets with relentless frequency, Arianespace has again slipped the launch readiness date for its new Ariane 6 rocket. Originally promised for a mid-2020 debut test flight, that date has reportedly slipped to late next year. Ariane 6 is a much-needed replacement […]