ESA&# CEO 8217 Josef Aschbacher said that the first flight is expected in the fourth quarter of 2023. However, this is pending completion of three key milestones by April next year: completion of the hot-fire upper stage test campaign, hot firing tests of the Ariane 6 main stage with its Vulcain 2.1 engine and the start of the launch system qualification check in the first quarter of 2023.
"With a project of this magnitude, it is important to be clear that this is a target date, and the program will still need to successfully and timely achieve a number of key milestones for this schedule to be viable," he .
"At stake here is Europe's independent access to space. We are all fully committed to getting to the launch pad as quickly as possible.”
The French space agency CNES prepares the launch vehicle at ESA in Karoo, French Guiana.
Ariane 6
You can read more about Ariane 6 at ESA.
Source: electronicsweekly.com
