The main elements of the Ariane 6 rocket (the main stage and the upper stage) have left their European production sites for Guyana, French territory where they will be tested on their launch pad in Kourou before the launcher's inaugural flight, ArianeGroup announced on Tuesday.

The main stage of the rocket, equipped with its Vulcain 2.1 engine, left its assembly site at Mureaux, near Paris, on a barge descending the Seine to the port of Le Havre where it was loaded onto a ship.

The latter then reached Bremen (Germany) to load the upper stage and its Vinci engine there before setting out to sea for French Guiana.

"The arrival of the two floors at the Guyanese Space Center is scheduled for mid-January," said ArianeGroup in a press release.

🚀The # Ariane6 core stage and upper stage intended for the combined tests on the launch pad in French Guiana have left the #ArianeGroup sites in Les Mureaux and Bremen and begun their journey to Europe's Spaceport.

Learn more about it here: https://t.co/JtA62bO2rY@Ariane6 pic.twitter.com/IXtlEvufL2

- ArianeGroup (@ArianeGroup) January 4, 2022

A maiden flight scheduled for this summer

"This first complete copy of Ariane 6 is intended for combined tests of the launcher with its new launch pad", specifically built for the rocket under the aegis of Cnes, the French space agency.

The start of these tests, the first meeting between the launcher and his launch pad, is scheduled for April.

The inaugural flight of the rocket, the stages of which are currently being assembled, is scheduled for this summer, depending on the result of the combined tests.

Rocket-launch pad interface, filling and emptying of tanks, flight software… "It is essential to anticipate all potential risks and to finalize all checks in conditions as close as possible to flight to ensure the success of the inaugural launch Ariane 6 ”, explains Franck Huiban, director of civil programs at ArianeGroup, quoted in the press release.

Once in Kourou, the two floors will be assembled horizontally in the launcher assembly building (BAL).

The launcher will then be positioned vertically under its mobile gantry where the auxiliary thrusters and boosters will be attached.

A major change from Ariane 5

"This is a major change compared to Ariane 5, since Ariane 6 receives its powder boosters and its upper part (including fairing and payload) directly on the launch pad" and not in a building of assembly, notes the company.

For these combined tests, Ariane 6 will not take off but the Vulcain engine on its main stage will be switched on several times.

Another example of the upper stage, equipped with its re-ignitable Vinci engine intended to operate in the vacuum of space, is preparing for its part to be tested in Lampoldshausen (Germany).

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