• Ariane 6’s hot-fire test successful, engine validated – Aschbacher.
• Launch dates announced for Ariane 6, addressing Europe’s launcher crisis.
• ESA, partners working on Ariane 6 for Europe’s launch capacity recovery.

Josef Aschbacher, the director-general of the European Space Agency (ESA), has confirmed the dates for the long-awaited debut flight of the Ariane 6 rocket. The announcement follows the success of a crucial test conducted on November 23, which Aschbacher described as “extremely important.”

The test, known as the long-duration hot-fire test, simulated a full flight of the Ariane 6 rocket, focusing on various scenarios and steps of the journey. Aschbacher highlighted the successful firing of the rocket’s Vulcain 2.1 engine during the test, marking a pivotal milestone in the rocket’s development.

Europe has been grappling with what Aschbacher termed an “acute launcher crisis” since retiring its previous generation of rockets, the Ariane 5, in July. With no launch capabilities of its own, the Ariane 6 has been eagerly anticipated to fill this void. Originally slated for a 2020 launch, the project faced delays due to technical challenges, design modifications, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aschbacher expressed confidence that Europe is now on the path to overcoming this crisis, emphasizing the collective effort of ESA and its partners. “We are out of the crisis when we launch [Ariane 6]. We are on a very good path to get out of this crisis,” he stated.

The successful completion of the long-duration hot-fire test has set the stage for the inaugural flight of the Ariane 6, marking a crucial milestone in Europe’s journey to reclaim its position in space exploration. The confirmation of the launch dates signals a new chapter in European space endeavors, heralding the countdown for the much-anticipated debut of the Ariane 6 rocket.

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