SPACE19+: fundamental, ambitious decisions for the future of Europe’s launchers
29.11.2019
ArianeGroup and Arianespace welcome the decisions regarding access to space taken by the representatives of the European States at the meeting of the European Space Agency Ministerial Council in Seville, Spain ArianeGroup and its European industrial partners are initiating the transition between Ariane 5 and Ariane 6, and preparing for the future of European access to space Ariane 6 is a European Space Agency program; the inaugural flight is scheduled for the second half of 2020 Following the success of the 250th Ariane launch, the Seville decisions strengthen Arianespace’s launch services, including marketing and operating the European Ariane and Vega launch vehicles
ArianeGroup, lead contractor and design authority for Ariane 6, and its subsidiary Arianespace, which markets and operates the Ariane 5, Ariane 6, Soyuz, Vega, and Vega C launchers, welcome the important decisions benefiting the European launch industry, crucial for independent access to space, at the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Seville, Spain.
These decisions allow the start of the transition between the two launch systems i.e., the end of Ariane 5 operations and Ariane 6 ramp-up to full operational capacity in 2023. With the funding approved for the next three years, they also secure the development of the main technological building blocks needed to keep Ariane evolving towards ever-greater competitiveness, such as the demonstrators for the new low-cost Prometheus® engine, the Icarus ultra-light carbon upper stage, and the reusable Themis stage.
In addition to the inaugural Ariane 6 flight scheduled for the second half of 2020, series production of the first 14 Ariane 6 launchers–scheduled to fly between 2021 and 2023–is underway at ArianeGroup sites in France and Germany, as well as at European industrial partner sites in the 13 countries taking part in the Ariane 6 program.
Ariane 6, an ESA program, will be a versatile, competitive launcher specifically designed to be able to adapt to changes in the market. It is modular and will be available in two versions, Ariane 62 (two P120 solid-fuel boosters common with Vega-C) and Ariane 64 (four P120 solid-fuel boosters), so that it can carry out all missions, to all orbits, and guarantee continued European access to space.
Industrial lead contractor for development and operation of the Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 launchers, ArianeGroup coordinates an industrial network of more than 600 companies (including 350 SMEs) in 13 European countries. Arianespace is responsible for operating Ariane, Soyuz, and Vega launch systems. It is in charge of marketing the launchers and guarantees their flight readiness as well as preparing missions on behalf of its customers.