The European Space Agency has started to assemble the Ariane 6 rocket in French Guiana ahead of its first launch which is planned to happen during June or July.
As seen in the picture above, the second of two P120C boosters was moved onto the launch pad last week to be attached to the central core. Each 13.5m (44ft) high booster contains 142 tonnes of solid rocket fuel and will fire shortly after the Vulcain 2.1 main stage to lift for a burn that lasts 130 seconds, helping to lift Ariane 6 to an altitude of about 70km.
Ariane 6 is Europe’s latest heavy-lift launch vehicle and was originally intended to be operational in 2020. Europe’s previous heavy-lift rocket Ariane 5 made its final flight last July.
Ariane 6 is being developed in two versions to be cost-effective for different missions. Ariane 62 will use two boosters while Ariane 64 will use four to reach higher orbits or carry heavier payloads.
Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup said, “It was with great pride and considerable emotion that the teams from ArianeGroup, ESA and CNES delivered and installed the first Ariane 6 flight model on its launch pad. Seeing the new European launcher standing on the launch zone marks the completion of years of work in the design offices and production plants of ArianeGroup and all our industrial partners in Europe.”
“This event also signals the beginning of a new step of the first flight campaign, with all the challenges and complexities that this entails. The members of our Space Team Europe are bringing all their know-how and expertise to bear to ensure that the first flight will be a total success.”
The boosters will be connected in the coming days by raising the central core with the lifting beam and moving them a few centimeters into their final positions. The central core will then be supported by the boosters and engineering teams will complete the mechanical and electrical connections.
The upper part of Ariane 6, which includes the payloads and the fairing will then be installed directly on the launch pad a few weeks before launch. The installation of the upper section on the launch pad is another key innovation of the Ariane 6 assembly process, and has the aim of increasing efficiency, shortening assembly cycles and launch campaigns.
