Trucks arrive with the first and second stage of Ariane 6
at the Launcher assembly building in Kourou
Here both stages are assembled horizontally
This is the process each Ariane 6 will go through
This simplifies the preparation process
just as in a car factory assembly line
and soon it will be into practice at Europe’s spaceport
Here the construction of the new launch base for Ariane 6
is in its finalisation phase
On one side the Launcher assembly building
and thenthe launch pad itself
with the big mobile gantry
Here Ariane 6’s boosters and fairing with payloads will be fitted
Ariane 6 facilities are taking shape
Europe’s future launchers are becoming reality
So first Ariane 6 the development goes full speed ahead
and now the industry has started the production of the first 14 launchers of Ariane 6
in addition to the maiden flight
So 15 launchers in production today
On Vega C side all engines are tested and
we had the test of the Zefiro 40
which was the last engine test
and now we are really on the final path
towards the maiden flight of Vega C as well
Vega C is the new and enhanced version of Europe’s lightweight launcher Vega
It will allow for an increased and versatile payload capacity from Kourou
In parallel
ESA is supporting the development of a structure to launch multiple satellites
called Small Spacecraft Mission Service
This dispenser allows more than a dozen small satellites
to be launched under the fairing of Vega and then Vega C
which will soon launch from Kourou for the first time
We will have a proof of concept flight on Vega
allowing to launch light satellites
a big number of small satellites
and we are already now preparing the same for Vega C and Ariane 6
So all our European launchers which are in development today
will have the capacity to offer a launch of a number of small satellites
light satellites
It’s a real market enhancement
Another project for ESA is Space Rider
It is the continuation of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, IXV
the successful mission that flew in February 2015
Space Rider is an unmanned orbital vehicle
that should provide Europe with its first
operational reusable space transportation system
It will be able to return from space
and will allow for experiments in microgravity
in-orbit validation of technologies
deployment of small satellites
and might even be used for Earth observation applications
or Servicing missions
We have today the access to space component
which is covered through Ariane 6 and Vega-C
we are developing at ESA STS space transportation also propulsion elements
engines for transport in space
and with Space Rider we have an operational capability
which will have to be decided in Seville end of the year
for returning from space on Earth
While the ministerial conference in Seville
will decide on the further development of Space Rider
Today
with its range of launch vehicles
Europe is already able to launch any type of satellite into any orbit
The new portfolio under development
aims to further secure this approach on the commercial launcher market
and at the same time
ensures Europe’s independent access to space in the future.