European space authorities marked the continent’s comeback in space exploration on Tuesday by celebrating the successful first flight of the Ariane 6 rocket.
After delays, political obstacles, and financing disputes, the mission successfully restored Europe’s independent access to space, despite a setback when the rocket failed to discharge its last batch of payloads, according to Reuters.
Three sets of microsatellites were launched for research during the first launch, which took place at 4 p.m. local time in Kourou, French Guiana, and was witnessed by a Rafale fighter jet. The launch confirmed the mission’s success even if it was not for commercial use.
European space officials declared the first flight a success as a result of this.
“Europe is back in space,” President of France’s CNES space agency Philippe Baptiste declared via video link to the CNES offices in Paris.
For the first time, the Vinci engine—which is meant to restart—was ignited in orbit, enabling Arianespace to launch payloads into different orbits.
But a smaller power unit failed to fire a third time, so the last set of payloads, two tiny capsules meant to test re-entry survival circumstances, were left locked on board.
“There was an oddity…”It is unlikely that we will complete this segment of the mission as planned,” stated Tina Buchner da Costa, an architect for the Ariane 6 launch system.
A system that is essential to the rocket’s capacity to place payloads in their appropriate orbit is the impacted auxiliary power unit.
