The launch of Europe’s new rocket, Ariane 6, didn’t go as planned due to a second stage anomaly. Despite a successful liftoff and initial stage separation, the rocket’s upper stage failed to raise its altitude, leading to a failed deorbit burn and leaving the second stage in orbit. This anomaly affected the deployment of some payloads, including small satellites and tech demos, as well as reentry capsules that didn’t perform their deorbit burn.
Ariane 6, developed by Arianespace, was meant to succeed the retired Ariane 5 and provide Europe with its own launch capabilities after losing access to Soyuz rockets. The rocket’s debut launch was delayed multiple times, with the most recent delay attributed to technical challenges and the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. Despite the setback, Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel expressed confidence in the rocket’s upcoming launches, stating that the anomaly would not affect future missions.
Engineers will analyze data from the launch failure to understand the cause of the anomaly and make necessary adjustments for future launches. While the rocket successfully demonstrated its capabilities during the debut launch, there is still a need to gather more information during the microgravity phase to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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