Ariane 6 joint update report, 4 September 2023
The Ariane 6 Launcher Task Force consists of top management at ESA, the overall Ariane 6 procuring entity and launch system architect, launch base prime contractor and French space agency CNES, launcher system prime contractor ArianeGroup and launch service provider Arianespace. This group reports regularly on progress being made towards inaugural flight of the new Ariane 6 launcher.
The next update is expected in October.
Next major X-ray mission set to launch
*Update: The new launch date for XRISM is 08:42 JST / 00:42 BST / 01:42 CEST on 7 September 2023*
The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is ready to launch on 7 September 2023 to observe the most energetic objects and events in the cosmos. In doing so, it will unveil the evolution of the Universe and the structure of spacetime.
XRISM is a collaboration between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA, with significant participation from ESA. The launch will be streamed live in Japanese and English on JAXA’s YouTube channel.
India’s moon lander set for nighttime as solar mission soars
ESA Open Day at ESTEC 2023: Registration now open
Take your chance to meet astronauts, view spacecraft and peer behind the scenes of Europe’s space adventure at our ESA Open Day at ESTEC in the Netherlands on Sunday 8 October. Registration is now open.
Ariane 6 media briefing – September 2023
Video:
01:00:57
Watch the replay of the media briefing and the question-and-answer session outlining the progress achieved and the upcoming steps in the Ariane 6 development test campaign. Updates are given on tests conducted at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, and at the German Aerospace Center DLR’s technical centre in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
The briefing was held on 4 September 2023 from ESA’s Headquarters in Paris, France. Participants included:
Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
Martin Sion, CEO, ArianeGroup
Philippe Baptiste, Chairman and CEO, CNES
Stéphane Israël, CEO, Arianespace
Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of Space Transportation, ESA
Carine Leveau, Director of Space Transportation, CNES
Stefan Schlechtriem, Director of Lampoldshausen,
Chinese scientist proposes solar system-wide resource utilization roadmap
ESA to set target for first Ariane 6 launch after upcoming tests
DoD satellites in low Earth orbit promise more connectivity for military users
Trial by fire for the Ariane 6 upper stage
Validation testing continues for ESA's all-new Ariane 6 launch vehicle, with firing of its two upper stage engines to simulate the way they will have to operate together during a flight.
The test of the full upper stage—including the new Vinci engine and a smaller Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)—took place on a purpose-built test bench at German Aerospace Center DLR's engine test center in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
