Unpackaging an Ariane 6 launch campaign – Part 4

A final rehearsal before lift-off

In Part 4 of your behind-the-scenes video visit to find out all about what happens during an Ariane 6 launch campaign, you’re in the control room of the Launch Centre with our expert Rocket Makers Martin, Nicolas and Joël. We’re getting really close to lift-off now, because, as they will tell you in detail, this is where they run the final tests on the launcher, which is now fully assembled on its launch pad and connected to the control bench.

A rigorous series of tests is carried out the now complete launcher to ensure again that all aspects are perfectly functional – and this leads to the key milestone at the end of an Ariane 6 campaign, a full-scale, real-time dress rehearsal of the launch sequence.

For this, the teams go through every step of the operations exactly as they will on the day of the launch, second by second. This includes filling Ariane 6 with propellant, rolling back the mobile gantry, running the ground control software, avionics and electronics, carrying out the countdown sequence and igniting the main stage engine – stopping just a few seconds before 0, naturally.

Next stop – lift-off!