ESA’s stations in Santa Maria, Portugal, and New Norcia, Australia, supported many Ariane 5 launch campaigns and will return to action for the debut flight of its successor, Ariane 6, this month.

They will form part of the ‘downrange tracking network’ for the first flight of Ariane 6 under the responsibility and organisation of the French Space Agency, CNES. The ESA stations will join stations from CNES and other partners at Galliot and Saint-Jean du Maroni (France), Bermuda (UK), Aussaguel (France), and Lucknow (India). Future flights will be supported by different stations depending on their trajectory.