Ariane 6’s Upper Stage Faces a Challenging Test: Trial by Fire

Ariane 6’s Upper Stage Faces a Challenging Test: Trial by Fire

In a significant milestone for European space exploration, the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully conducted a test of its all-new Ariane 6 launch vehicle on 1 September 2023. The test, which took place at the German aerospace agency DLR’s engine test centre in Lampoldshausen, Germany, involved firing the vehicle’s two upper stage engines to simulate […]

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Learn about the Hera asteroid mission

Learn about the Hera asteroid mission

ESA’s Hera asteroid mission has arrived at the ESTEC Test Centre in the Netherlands, marking a significant milestone in the project. After being transported from its birthplace in Bremen, Germany, the van-sized spacecraft was placed inside an environmentally controlled container and left overnight in the airlock to allow for dust to settle and humidity to […]

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Ariane 6’s Upper Stage Faces a Challenging Trial by Fire

Ariane 6’s Upper Stage Faces a Challenging Trial by Fire

Validation testing for ESA’s new Ariane 6 launch vehicle is well underway, with recent tests focusing on the upper stage engines. These tests involved firing the Vinci engine and a smaller Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), simulating their operation during a flight. The tests took place at the German Aerospace Center DLR’s engine test centre in […]

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