Key milestones towards inaugural flight:

Started May 2023: Ground combined testssequence, at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana - This test sequence notably includes two wet rehearsals and a long firing test of the lower stage on the launch pad. The successful achievement of this sequence is a main prerequisite for the inaugural flight.

Starting June 2023: Flight software qualification tests - Software tests in anticipation of the inaugural flight mission, in nominal and degraded conditions.

Completion of outstanding qualification reviews of the different products and sub-systems.

Starting late-June 2023: Overall launch system qualification review - Unified qualification review of the launcher, launch system and launch base.

July 2023: Upper stage additional hot firing test at DLR Lampoldshausen, Germany - This test on the P5.2 test bench will simulate a nominal flight profile like the one planned for the inaugural flight, to confirm the expected behaviour of the upper stage. A further test is planned, after summer, to examine stage behaviour in degraded cases.

Starting November 2023: Launch vehicle assembly - Following sea transportation of lower and upper stages from France and Germany to French Guiana, this process will include in a full-fledged flight configuration a final wet dress rehearsal.