ESA To Announce Ariane 6 Launch Schedule After Final Testing Stage

Ariane 6 successfully passed the engine combustion test before doing the final test (photo: dock. ESA)

JAKARTA The European Space Agency (ESA) has passed the crucial engine combustion stage of Ariane 6, a launch vehicle developed by ArianeGroup, on Thursday, November 23.

Quoting fromSpace, this important test was carried out to see if the rocket was able to get through the engine combustion process. This test is important to do so that the rocket can stay on the takeoff line at launch.

During testing, the Vulcain 2.1 engine, which is the core stage of the rocket, was turned on. The engine started at 15:44 local time when Ariane 6 was on the launch pad of Kourou, French Guiana.

Although testing was delayed for 45 minutes and the countdown was stopped as it almost reached the third minute, the space agency confirmed that Ariane 6 had passed the test.

"Tim dari ArianeGroup, CNES (Brench Space Agency), dan ESA kini telah menjalankan setiap langkah penerbangan rokeet tanpa harus meninggalkan Bumi," kata Direktur Jenderal ESA Josef Aschbacher, dikutip VOIdariSpacenews.

Actually, there is still one more stage of the test that must be passed. This last test is a hot fire test for the top stage of the rocket. They need to see if the performance and top-stage conditions of the rocket are running as expected.

After Ariane 6 underwent his final test in December in Germany, all ESA officials will meet to discuss the launch schedule of the rocket. After that, the launch date will be announced soon.

"Relying on the results of this test, after that I will be in a position to announce the launch date of Ariane 6 for its inaugural flight," said Aschbacher.