Representation of the future Ariane 6. -
David Ducros / AP / SIPA
The inaugural firing of the Ariane 6 rocket is postponed until the second quarter of 2022. Technical difficulties aggravated by the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis, announced Thursday the European Space Agency (ESA).
This flight had already been postponed for the first time to the second half of 2021.
The decision was taken at the end of a Council of the agency, held Wednesday and Thursday, which also ratified an inaugural launch of the small Vega-C launcher in June 2021, said the director of European space transport of the 'ESA, Daniel Neuenschwander.
ESA is developing #VegaC and # Ariane6 to guarantee Europe's independent access to space.
The inaugural flight of Vega-C is scheduled for June 2021, that of Ariane 6 during the 2nd quarter of 2022 👉 https://t.co/es3Qyv1zaT pic.twitter.com/bhJ4vvFqQq
- ESA France (@ESA_fr) October 29, 2020
Technical challenges to overcome
The official explained that "the path to the inaugural flights of the two launchers must overcome technical challenges, in a context of reduced productivity" because of the pandemic.
He cited two parts of the program as examples.
On the launcher side, technical difficulties have been identified in the development of the auxiliary power unit (APU), a small multi-role reactor which will be "on board for the first time in the launcher" and which should make it possible to "penetrate the market. constellations of satellites ”.
Another example, with the development of the new cryogenic arm which will connect the launcher to the launch tower, in Kourou (Guyana), until the last moments before takeoff.
"We have technical difficulties and the situation has been further deteriorated by the Covid-19", said Daniel Neuenschwander.
Tense times for the space industry
In Kourou, the EL-4 firing point worksite was also interrupted by sanitary measures before setting off again more slowly.
"We are still today at half of the starting workforce" which was 600 people, according to the manager.
The pandemic has also had consequences for manufacturers in Europe, "with an impact on key stages of the program".
According to Daniel Neuenschwander, "the industry will enter a very tense period in 2021-2022".
Particularly because the production of Ariane 5 is coming to an end and that of Ariane 6 will start more slowly than expected.
“To the point where it impacts the industry at a time when the market is very tight, with fierce competition,” he explained.
ESA will therefore ask for an extension of 230 million euros from participating countries, which it "hopes to obtain in the coming months".
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