ARIANE 6: START OF UPPER STAGE HOT-FIRING TESTS

First hot-firing test of complete upper stage of new Ariane 6 upper stage successfully completed

Teams from ArianeGroup and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have successfully carried out the first hot-firing test of the new Ariane 6 upper stage on a dedicated test bench in Lampoldshausen, Germany.

The upper stage must now undergo up to three more hot-firing tests to obtain its “flight ready” qualification. ArianeGroup engineers in Bremen (Germany), Vernon and Les Mureaux (France) together with the teams in Lampoldshausen are using the tests to collect data that is essential for the program to progress.

The cryogenic upper stage, manufactured at ArianeGroup’s site in Bremen, is one of the most important innovations of Ariane 6. It will enable the widest possible range of complex and combined missions, for example to place entire satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) or payloads of 4.5 to 12 tons in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The stage consists of two main tanks filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power the new Vinci engine, which can be re-ignited up to four times, and the innovative Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).

This successful hot-firing test is an important step on the way to the qualification of Ariane 6 and its successful inaugural flight.

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