“I am confident” (Philippe Baptiste, CNES)

2023-05-13 06:00:00

CNES President Philippe Baptiste is much more optimistic regarding a first flight of Ariane 6 (Ariane 62 version) at a deadline close to the official schedule (last quarter of 2023) than at the start of the year. “I find that we are currently on a good dynamic on the Ariane 6 program. (…) I am rather confident”, Philippe Baptiste told the Space Forum on Thursday, organized by La Tribune. Why such optimism? “Over the past few months, several good news have arrived. And technical problems, which had appeared, were solved one following the other »he assured, adding that there was currently “a climate of trust between the different partners and between the teams”. If these are not yet certainties, the feelings of Philippe Baptiste seem much better than last January. The worries sound a lot more familiar at this stage in the development of Europe’s future heavy launcher.

Asked regarding a possible window planned for the first flight of Ariane 6, the boss of CNES kicked in touch, believing that it was still too early to ensure reliable programming. Especially since Ariane 6 is currently in the intensive testing phase. ArianeGroup and CNES are carrying out combined tests to connect the launcher to its launch pad (electrical connections, digital connections, fluid connections). “We see if everything is going well. These tests are done to find out whether or not there are any abnormalities.” on the program, explained Philippe Baptiste. Finally, he indicated that CNES would be ” on time ” to deliver the Ariane 6 launch pad which is under its prime contractorship.

Maia’s goal: an inexpensive reusable mini-launcher

Under the project management of ArianeGroup, the Maia program, a future reusable mini-launcher which should be operational in 2026, aims to develop and design “a small, reusable, low-cost liquid launcherrecalled the president of CNES. It is a collective challenge for the French space industry”. Why is this an important project for France? “With Maia, France has found a way to accelerate on a reusable technological brick that it missed, not technically, but for arbitration reasons”, he explained. He also hopes that this project will be “joined by European partners”.

However, he recalled that not long ago there were close to 250 mini-launcher projects in the world. “I’m not sure there will be 250 pitchersunderlined Philippe Baptiste. What is certain is that there will be no market, neither for 250 mini-launchers nor for 25. It will probably be much less. This slot is not an easy slot and it is very narrow. It is however very coveted”. Mini-launcher technology is now much more accessible to new entrants, who are also encouraged by the political will of countries wishing to have sovereign access to space.