Reporting
Guyana: the Ariane 6 rocket, a major issue in Emmanuel Macron's visit to Kourou
Emmanuel Macron was expected this Tuesday at the Kourou space center, in Guyana, from where the Ariane 6 rocket, currently being assembled, will soon be launched. A strategic project for France and Europe. Before the arrival of the Head of State, our special correspondent visited the base, where the teams are in the “starting blocks”.
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Employees of ArianeGroup and Arianespace in front of the Vulcain®2.1 engine of the European Ariane 6 launcher, on the sidelines of Emmanuel Macron's visit to Kourou, this Tuesday March 26, 2024. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN
By: Valérie Gas Follow
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From our special correspondent in Kourou,
The Jupiter room is the control tower from which the launch of the Ariane 6 rocket will be given, by the summer if all goes well, as explained by Philippe Lier, director of the Guiana Space Center. (CSG). “
The window, it is clear, is between June 14 and the end of July
,” specifies the latter.
On the immense Kourou base, as large as two-thirds of
Martinique
, you have to take a twenty-minute bus ride in the middle of the forest to get to the Ariane 6 launch pad, a removable hangar which will open to that when the time comes, the rocket can take off.
But before that, you have to assemble all the pieces and carry out numerous checks. Work that is progressing, according to Loïc Ménager, director of Arianespace in
Guyana
: “
The central port of the launcher is ready, there is one booster which is finished, and the second is being finished.
»
Successfully launching Ariane 6 is a priority objective
to assert Europe's strategic autonomy in space and compete with
Elon Musk
's Space
looking for a place on a folding seat, with Ariane 6. We have a certain clientele who are also looking for an alternative to “all Space X”.
»
In Kourou,
Emmanuel Macron
was to shine the spotlight today on a space base which is celebrating its 60th anniversary and seeks to prepare for the future, by attracting new private clients thanks to the development of a micro-launcher program alongside 'Ariane 6.
Also read Space: Emmanuel Macron wants to bring out new French players in the face of competition
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