Welcome everyone! It’s time for another new rocket!
Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-07-09 19:00 |
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Scheduled for (local) | 2024-07-09 16:00 (GFT) |
Launch site | ELA-4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana |
Launch vehicle | Ariane 62 |
Payloads | Multiple |
Mission success criteria | Successful launch and deployment of payloads into Low Earth Orbit |
Livestreams
Stream | Link |
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ESA (English) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0oFpOJaIYc |
ESA (Français) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfNPzSOalEU |
ESA (Deutsch) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_87OnvB_fQ |
ESA (clean feed) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogXamYYJpQk |
Arianespace (English) | |
Arianespace (Français) | |
Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQhzzFK5sgs |
Spaceflight Now | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ch6wPRb4Og |
NASASpaceflight | |
Everyday Astronaut | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1WGk5XSNXk |
The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPAG2TG63oA |
Stats
☑️ 1st ever Ariane 6 mission
☑️ 1st ESA mission of 2024, 15th mission overall
Payload info
- SpaceCase SC-X01: Test platform for reentry technologies such as new-generation ablative materials for thermal protection systems.
- GRBBeta: 1U CubeSat – Gamma Ray Burst detection
- ISTSAT: 1U CubeSat – Characterisation of aircraft’s ‘cone of silence’ and in-flight performances of a custom-made Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system.
- 3Cat4: 1U CubeSat – Techno demo Flexible Microwave Payload.
- OOV-Cube: Microsatellite – IoT agriculture use case demo.
- CuriumOne: With a duplicate ASTRIS Engineering Qualification Model PCB as primary payload.
Please feel free to post updates and questions in the comments!
https://x.com/esa/status/1810792159295180959
The tech-demo phase of Ariane 6 is still in progress but has shown an unexpected result which will only affect the end of the mission.
On the webcast, they stated that the Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU) switched off shortly after it it powered up after SECO-2. Without the APU, they have no way to settle the propellants in the tanks, and thus can’t reignite the upper stage for the final burn.
From the live camera feed, it looks as though the upper stage was spinning, so there may have been some loss of control as well.
Webcast commentary is back!
Edit: SES-2 confirmed!
Edit2: SECO-2. Nominal orbit confirmed. First payload deployments scheduled for T+1:05.
Edit3: Confirmation of cubesat deployments confirmed! Next up will be SES-3 at T+2:37.
Looks like we have SECO-1 and nominal orbit insertion!
Edit: Webcast commentary scheduled to resume T+52 minutes for a circularization burn and the first set of payload deployments.
Upper stage separation
I’m impressed by the quality of their onboard cameras, without the help of starlink.
That was one of the more cinematic stage separations I’ve seen in a while. Beautiful shot from the upper stage camera.
MECO, stage separation, and stage 2 ignition confirmed!