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23 November 2023

[Ariane 6] Successful first ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine

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On 23 November 2023, teams from CNES, ArianeGroup and the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully completed the long-duration hot-fire test of Ariane 6’s main stage on its launch pad at Europe’s spaceport. 

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The test sequence on 23 November took place in the same way as the previous ones, in a full launch sequence and final countdown, representative of a launch. 

 

This included removing the mobile gantry and filling the launcher’s main stage and upper stage tanks with liquid hydrogen (-253° Celsius) and liquid oxygen (-183° Celsius). 

 

This time it concluded with the ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine for more than 7 minutes on the Ariane 6 launch pad.

 

This major milestone in the combined test campaign validated the entire flight phase of Ariane 6’s main stage by simulating a complete launch sequence. It forms part of the overall qualification of the launch system, including the launcher and ground facilities, in particular the ELA 4 launch complex dedicated to Ariane 6, with its ZL4 launch zone.

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L’essai à feu complet du lanceur Ariane 6 sur son pas de tir, réalisé dans le cadre des essais combinés au Centre Spatial Guyanais, s’est déroulé avec succès.
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