A test specimen of Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket was refueled at the European Spaceport in French Guiana, followed by static ignition of its central stage rocket engine. After ignition, the Vulcain 2.1 engine burned as planned for 4 seconds, and then the unconsumed remnants of liquid oxygen and hydrogen were pumped from the rocket into underground storage tanks. The conducted test was a continuation of the previous series of tests that took place on July 18. The current test was conducted by experts from CNES and ArianeGroup under the supervision of ESA representatives. The test was to check the pre-start procedures, the ignition sequence and prove again that the system can be kept safe even if the pre-start countdown is stopped, which was already proven in the mentioned test on July 18. Fueling the rocket and igniting the engine were the last tasks left to fully inspect the rocket, ramp, service tower and all associated fuel and electrical wiring. However, the main thing was to check how these individual systems work together.
Test Ariane 6 during static ignition.
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The Ariane 6 rocket that participated in the ramp tests is not intended for flight. Its auxiliary solid propellant engines do not contain propellant, but for testing purposes it is almost identical in design to the flight model. Parts for the first Ariane 6 flight specimen are already being produced and assembled at the ArianeGroup company’s production facilities in Les Mureaux, France, and Bremen, Germany. The solid propellant auxiliary stages for the first flight are already being assembled in Kourou, French Guiana. “There is a fantastic team working on this program. We all feel that we are taking the final steps to enter the Ariane 6 era,” said Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of ESA’s Space Transport Division.
Ariane 6 uses a completely new design to follow the legacy of the heavy European rocket Ariane 5. As Ariane 6 will be equipped with an upper stage with a restartable Vinci engine, its flight capabilities will be able to be tailored to different payloads – for example, to launch satellite networks. Developing its own capabilities to reach orbit and deep space deepens Europe’s efforts to develop navigation, Earth observation, science and security programs. At the same time, ESA emphasizes that the current development of European capabilities in the field of cargo transport into space is only possible thanks to the continuous commitment of thousands of talented people who work in ESA’s 22 member states.
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2023-09-10 16:34:40
#Ariane #fueling #ramp
