Next milestones:

October 2023: Combined test, launch rehearsal with ignition of the main stage, Kourou, French Guiana

As part of the test sequence reconfiguration, the Ariane 6 Task force decided to bring forward to end of october a rehearsal test originally planned to be held after the long firing test.

This full-scale 36-hour long test is compatible with the parallel resolution of the anomaly on the hydraulic group. It consists in the execution of a full launch chronology enriched by qualification tests on several launch system functions including ventilation of cavities, launch range interfaces, and environmental characterisation. This time, operations will be executed during the coolest hours of the day at dawn time.

The test results will be part of the Ariane 6 qualification.

November 2023: Combined test, long-duration firing of the main stage with Vulcain 2.1 engine, Kourou, French Guiana. 

Similar to the previous hot-firing rehearsals, this test will end with a full eight minutes (470 seconds) of firing of the Vulcain 2.1 engine, representing the entire flight phase of the core stage.

The anomaly affecting the hydraulic group of the TVC system resulted in a change of the test schedule. ArianeGroup as prime contractor and SABCA as supplier already prepared a replacement specimen of the hydraulic group, without waiting for the results of the technical investigation. Once the equipment is integrated on the Ariane 6 launcher specimen, teams will finish preparations for the test which is now planned on 23 November.

As per standing plan, the Ariane 6 first flight launch period estimate will only be given when the combined long firing test will have been carried out and the test results are analysed.

December 2023: Upper stage firing test, Lampoldshausen, Germany

It is planned to examine stage behaviour in degraded cases.

The adaptation of the test sequence keeps the Ariane 6 development on track for a launch in 2024.