Spaceflight 🚀🇪🇺 The announced delay ⏳🥱 of #Ariane6 left #SpaceX as the only viable alternative https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-signs-security-deal-us-launch-satellite-spacex-elon-musk/
The #EuropeanUnion 🇪🇺 announced plans to launch 170 #satellites 🛰️ into #orbit between 2025 and 2027 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/oct/15/billionaire-space-race-can-bezoss-project-kuiper-catch-up-to-musks-starlink
Launched 🚀 by... ?
Mostly Ariane, the price doesn't matter
> 50% SpaceX
ULA
ISRO
Poll ended at .
#German 🇩🇪 with #English 🇬🇧 subtitles 🚀💰 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nB8okbHG0g
ARIANE 6 RAKETE: Europas Hoffnungsträger startklar - Milliardenprojekt oder Milliardengrab?
Watch The Ariane 6 Launch For The First Time!
🇫🇷 #LeMonde "The program will now have to offer attractive prices 💶 and win new orders facing the competition of Elon Musk" https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2024/07/10/avec-le-succes-du-lancement-d-ariane-6-l-europe-retrouve-l-acces-a-l-espace_6248288_3234.html
Avec le succès du lancement d’Ariane-6, l’Europe retrouve l’accès à l’espace
La fusée européenne a réussi son vol de qualification, mardi, faisant oublier quatre années de retard. Le programme devra désormais proposer des prix attractifs et engranger de nouvelles commandes face à la concurrence d’Elon Musk.
The APU #malfunction had several consequences for the remainder of the test flight. The upper stage will remain in #LEO, likely for decades ⏳. The #Ariane6 upper stage autonomously canceled the command to deploy two return craft as they would not have been able to complete their missions because they relied on the #Vinci engine to guide them to their reentry targets. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/europes-first-ariane-6-flight-achieved-most-of-its-goals-but-ended-prematurely/3
#Eumetsat has just canceled the launch of one of its devices with the #European 🇪🇺 rocket, choosing #SpaceX instead. This decision, taken just a few days before Tuesday's launch, appears to be a sign of #mistrust 🤔🙄 https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2024/07/10/ariane-6-a-small-step-for-europe-in-space_6680074_23.html
"#Ariane6 is no longer competitive with #Falcon9, this we have to face". Expensive 💰, delayed ⏳ and no longer cutting-edge tech. “In 📆 2014 there was a fork in the road, and we didn’t take the right path”. The #LaunchCost will be upward of €100 million 💰. The response? A very #European 🇪🇺 plea for protection and #government aid. https://www.politico.eu/article/how-europe-screwed-up-its-rocket-program/
#Ariane64 can launch payloads of around 11,500 kg into geostationary transfer orbit and 21,600 kg into #LEO. The #FalconHeavy 63,800 kilograms, Starship 100,000 to 150,000 kgs to #LEO https://www.inverse.com/science/innovation/ariane-6-vs-spacex
#CNN 📆 July 9, 2024 It’s not yet clear 🙈 how much the #rocket will ultimately cost per launch. The vehicle cost about 4 billion € 💰 to develop, and officials have indicated they hope 🙏 the per-launch cost will be well under $100 million. In comparison, #SpaceX’s #Falcon9 rocket has a base price of $67 million and can carry slightly more tonnage into #LEO https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/09/science/ariane-6-rocket-launch-debut-europe/index.html
#Europe's 🇪🇺 future in the space sector requires a new organization, along the lines of what #NASA achieved more than 20 years ago 👊. #Ariane6 will have to compete with Musk's #Starship and Jeff Bezos' #NewGlenn. At a time when the larger nations (the #US 🇺🇸, #China 🇨🇳, #India 🇮🇳 and #Japan 🇯🇵) are stepping up space activities, #Europe must get into fighting mode if it is not to fall irretrievably behind. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2024/07/10/ariane-6-a-small-step-for-europe-in-space_6680074_23.html
#SpaceRider funding was initially approved by the #ESA in 📆 2016. Its maiden flight is currently scheduled for the third quarter of 📆 2025 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Rider
📆 August 2024 Drop 🪂 Test https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-completes-first-drop-test-for-reusable-space-rider-spacecraft
🇪🇺 #SpaceRider's inaugural flight is currently expected in 📆 2027. This is four years ⌛ after the original Q3 2023 projection, established when the first contracts were signed in December 2020 https://europeanspaceflight.com/beyond-gravity-delivers-key-elements-of-esas-space-rider-vehicle
🇯🇵 #Mitsubishi has agreed to provide multiple #H3 rocket launches for French 🇫🇷 #satellite company #Eutelsat Group from 📆 2027 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/09/18/mitsubishi-eutelsat-h3
Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D.@spaceflight Not really a surprise .. from 2011:
"What I'm discovering in the market is that SpaceX primarily seems to be selling a dream, which is good. We should all dream," Bowles replied. "I think a $5 million launch or a $15 million launch is a bit of a dream. Personally, I think reusability is a dream. How am I going to respond to a dream? My answer to respond to a dream is, first of all, you don't wake people up."
And of course it's an Eric Berger article: https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/some-european-launch-officials-still-have-their-heads-stuck-in-the-sand/
⊥ᵒᵚ Cᵸᵎᶺᵋᶫ∸ᵒᵘ ☑️@spaceflight which is impossible for a non-reusable design that launches every few months
Zoidtes@falken @spaceflight few months?! I hope so! But I barely believe that Europe is that eager.
The Europeans have a drive for other topics but not for the technological future of Europe. Sadly.
I assume that the next launch may be by the end of the year or next year 🙃.
Europe needs more competition in the rocket business, otherwise Europe will be stuck with bicycles as their highest form of technology
Mike Bell@falken @spaceflight from the stream yesterday they said the rocket had a 2 week turnaround. I'd like to think it's true but the clients need to be there for it to work.
@mikebell @spaceflight turn what around? It's not reusable.
@falken @spaceflight I guess they meant the launchpad which is a bit of a shame. I'd assumed they meant at least some of the rocket but a bit of searching says no. There is SUSIE but it's only a proposal.