23 November 2023

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

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. 

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.

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.

On the same section