Latest news with #Ariane5
UPI
3 days ago
- Science
- UPI
Europe Ariane 6 rocket launches a weather satellite
Europe's Ariane 6, the successor to the Ariane 5 seen here, launched a weather and climate satellite to orbit on Tuesday night. NASA File Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI | License Photo Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Europe's Ariane 6 rocket sent a weather and climate satellite to orbit on Tuesday night. The Ariane 6 took off at 8:37 p.m. EDT from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in its third-ever launch, carrying the Metop-SGA1. "The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission -- along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach," The European Space Agency posted on its website. The Metop-SGA1 will use six onboard instruments to gather an assortment of weather and climate data, across 7.5 years. It will eventually be joined by five other satellites to form the Metop Second Generation constellation. "The satellite will take global observation of weather and climate from a polar orbit to a new level, providing high-resolution observations of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, soil moisture, volcanic dust and a multitude of other parameters," according to Arianespace representatives. The liftoff was the 355th for Arianespace and the company's EUMETSAT 21st meteorological satellite to be sent to space.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket begins first commercial mission
The new European Ariane 6 rocket lifted off on Thursday for the first time on a commercial flight into space, carrying a French air force satellite. Live images showed the rocket lifting off from the European spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana. The rocket completed its maiden voyage last year, which was largely successful. The Ariane 6 is the successor model to the Ariane 5, which was in operation from 1996 to 2023. The rocket is intended to transport satellites into space for commercial and public clients and is significantly cheaper than its predecessor, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). The Ariane 6 can carry larger satellites, launching payloads of up to 21.6 metric tons into lower orbits and 11.5 tons into higher orbits. The upper stage of the rocket can be repeatedly ignited, meaning the Ariane 6 can place satellites in different positions and orbits. Depending on the mission, the modular rocket can be equipped with two or four boosters, but has so far only flown with two. It is due to take off with four boosters for the first time at the end of the year.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Maiden commercial flight of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket postponed
Shortly before the maiden commercial flight of the new European launch vehicle, Ariane 6, the launch was called off. "Due to further operations needed on a ground means interfacing with the launcher, the launch is postponed," the rocket operator Arianespace announced just half an hour before the planned start time on Monday. "The new launch date will be announced following the completion of these operations," it posted on X. The rocket was already positioned at its launch site at the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, and the mobile work platform around the rocket had already been removed for the planned flight. The Ariane 6 is crucial for Europe's independent access to space. It allows Europe to independently launch larger satellites into space. The rocket completed its maiden flight last summer. The Ariane 6 is the successor model to the Ariane 5, which was in operation from 1996 to the summer of 2023. The rocket is intended to transport satellites into space for commercial and public clients. Depending on the orbit, it can carry up to 21.6 metric tons. In fact, the Ariane 6 was supposed to launch into space in 2020. However, there were repeated delays. The rocket eventually lifted off with a four-year delay.
Daily Tribune
02-03-2025
- Science
- Daily Tribune
European satellite launcher set for first commercial blast off
AFP | Paris After several postponements, Europe's Ariane 6 launcher will carry out its first commercial mission on Monday when it puts a French military intelligence satellite into space. The launch from the Kourou base in French Guiana is key to Europe's efforts to build up its security autonomy amid the shocks caused by the US-Russia diplomatic rapprochement. 'The whole world is watching us,' Arianespace chief executive David Cavailloles told AFP this month. Ariane 5 was retired in 2023 and Europe has not been able to use Russia's Soyuz rocket for satellite launches since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
