this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2024
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Ariane 6 Demo Flight Launch Thread! (ESA Rideshares) (self.esa)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/[email protected]
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Welcome everyone! It's time for another new rocket!

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-07-09 19:00 | |

|

| | 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 | |

|

| | 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!

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 months ago

FYI to everyone: there are several fake "ESA Official" YouTube channels running deepfaked Elon crypto scam streams that claim to be "Ariane 6 Launch Stream".

They're nothing new, but sharing in case anyone hasn't seen it before. Those aren't real streams!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Upper stage separation

[–] threelonmusketeers 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That was one of the more cinematic stage separations I've seen in a while. Beautiful shot from the upper stage camera.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Yes beautiful!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm impressed by the quality of their onboard cameras, without the help of starlink.

[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Seems like they might be between ground stations right now. Haven't seen live video from the upper stage for a few minutes. Telemetry still looks good though.

[–] threelonmusketeers 6 points 3 months ago

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.

[–] threelonmusketeers 6 points 3 months ago

ESA webcast is live! https://youtube.com/watch?v=B0oFpOJaIYc

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thank you for the info. I'm watching because of you posting this.

[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 3 months ago

You're welcome! Glad people find these threads useful!

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

So launch window start has been shifted by one hour according to my info: 21:00 - 00:00 Amsterdam/Berlin CEST.

[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 3 months ago

Thanks! Updated the main post.

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 months ago

MECO, stage separation, and stage 2 ignition confirmed!

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 months ago

Décollage!

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 months ago

Fairing jettison confirmed!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

All nominal, successful booster separation, fairing jettisoned

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Wohoo a proper launch thread. Thank you!

Let's hope they manage to launch at the beginning of the window.

So for Amsterdam/Berlin timezone that's starting at 20:00 tonight.

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

SRB separation confirmed!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Rocket fuelled up now , so everything going ahead smoothly...

[–] threelonmusketeers 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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.