This is what is planned for the very first flight of the Ariane 6 rocket

The new European rocket Ariane 6 will make its maiden flight on July 9, 2024. The launcher will use its first flight to test its technical advances, starting with the ability to relight its Vinci upper stage. This time, it’s for real: Ariane 6 is going to fly. The new European rocket is scheduled to take off on July 9, 2024 from Kourou, French Guiana. It is without a doubt one of the major events of the year for those who love space news. This inaugural flight will allow Europe must finally straighten its headafter difficult years. Obviously, it remains to be seen whether everything goes well for the very first flight of the Ariane 6 rocket. The launcher is key to Europe’s sovereigntybut there is always an element of uncertainty. The first flight of Ariane 5 in 1996 went badly, with an explosion after 37 seconds in flight. But His career was then almost impeccable.. Assuming all goes well, the maiden flight of Ariane 6 will be split into three main phases.

Removal of Ariane 6 from its gantry. // Source: CNES/ESA/Arianespace-ArianeGroup/Optique Vidéo CSG/S Martin, 2023 (modified with Canva)

The first phase consists of taking off and climbing high in the atmosphere, at an altitude of a few hundred kilometers, until the first shutdown of the Vinci, about twenty minutes after liftoff. This includes the separation of the boosters, the fairing and the upper stage. For this mission, there will be two boosters, but the rocket can also accommodate four. The second phase includes a relighting procedure for the Vinci, which is the second stage of the rocket (the first being the Vulcain). This ability is a new feature of Ariane 6. According to the European Space Agency, this will move Ariane 6 from an elliptical orbit to a circular orbit. The rocket’s payload will then be deployed. As for the final stage, it includes a test of the cryogenic upper stage to its limits, in microgravity conditions. A controlled deorbit of this stage and its end are also planned. at Point Nemo in the Pacific Oceanits deactivation (“passivation”) to avoid any risk of explosion, and the return of two small capsules. The flight of Ariane 6 will be able to be followed live.

Ariane 6’s first flight in detail

TimeEvent-00:00:07Ignition of the first stage Vulcain 2.100:00:00Ignition of the boosters and takeoff of the rocket00:02:16Separation of the two boosters00:03:39Separation of the fairing00:07:35Shutdown of the Vulcain 2.1 engine00:07:41Separation of the upper stage Vinci00:07:50First thrust of the Vinci00:08:53Startup of the first auxiliary propulsion unit00:18:32Shutdown of the Vinci00:56:20Second thrust of the Vinci00:56:42Shutdown of the Vinci01:05:36Shutdown of the auxiliary propulsion unit01:05:53First separation command: three satellites (OOV-Cube, Curium One, Robust-3A) and initialization of two experiments (YPSat and Peregrinus)01:05:56Second separation command: three satellites (*3Cat-4, ISTSat-1, GRBBeta) and initialization of two experiments (SIDLOC and PariSat)01:06:02Third separation command: two satellites (CURE and Replicator)01:14:12Start-up of the second auxiliary propulsion unit01:49:41Shutdown of the auxiliary propulsion unit01:51:11Start-up of the third auxiliary propulsion unit02:37:15Third thrust of the Vinci02:37:43Shutdown of the Vinci02:39:26Shutdown of the auxiliary propulsion unit02:40:13Separation command of the two atmospheric reentry capsules (Nyx Bikini and SpaceCase SC-X01)02:40:33Maneuver of passivation Look at the world from the space