2 models Unprecedented modularity and flexibility
Ariane 6 – a European Space Agency (ESA) program – is a family of launchers designed to offer institutional and commercial customers maximum flexibility through its ability to place all types of payloads into an optimized orbit, regardless of the mission: low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) or sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). With considerable under-fairing volume, Ariane 6 can perform conventional single or dual launches as well as complex missions for new market needs, such as orbiting of electrical propulsion satellites or multiple constellation launches, thanks to its upper stage equipped with the re-ignitable Vinci® engine. There are two versions of the launcher, which are selected according to the mission requirements:
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Designed for operations
The development and production of Ariane 6 is a truly collective adventure and is based on both the passion of the multicultural teams, with their unparalleled expertise, and on an entirely new and optimized industrial organization. Building on the expertise acquired with Ariane 5 and on years of feedback from its user customers, ArianeGroup is deploying a ‘designed for operations’ approach, through a method called the ‘Ariane 6 Way’, which draws on the most efficient organizational standards and the most recent digital tools. Design to cost, simultaneous engineering, maximized standardization up to the development of elements common with the Vega-C launcher, as well as ‘right first time’, are among the fundamental principles underpinning this system. It is based on the RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) approach and involves a series of maturity gate milestones which ensure that the progress of development meets all the conditions necessary for attaining the objectives at each step along the way.
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Optimised industrial organisation
The industrial organisation put into place for building Ariane 6 aims for maximum efficiency throughout the production cycle, up to delivery to the launch pad where, for greater flexibility, the payload is assembled on the launcher. The creation of European clusters of excellence allows to work with industrial partners via an extended enterprise approach, in order to standardise launcher methods and tools. The contribution of new industrial processes and innovative manufacturing technologies (3D printing, friction-stir welding, laser surface treatment, etc.), combined with a product lifecycle management system that meets the latest standards, helps optimize industrial level production.
The overall goal is to achieve production costs 40 to 50% lower than those of Ariane 5 in order to be competitive in the face of new market demands.
A vast European industrial chain
As lead contractor for the Ariane 5 launchers, ArianeGroup coordinates more than 550 European companies working on the launcher, including more than 100 small and medium enterprises. It oversees the entire industrial chain, from management of launcher performance upgrades to final adjustments with the supply of the mission flight software, not forgetting production management. This includes equipment and structures, manufacture of the engines, integration of the various stages and launcher integration in French Guiana. The unique expertise acquired on Ariane 5 is one of the major advantages of the future European launcher Ariane 6 being developed by ArianeGroup.
Videos
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We build Ariane 6 - season 2 episode 1 Flight control
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 1 Guillaume: Enhancement plan
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 2 Tina: Upper stage
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We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 3 Cédric: Ariane 6 new site @ Les Mureaux
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 4 Mathieu: Design
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 5 Franck: Boosters
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We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 6 Maxime: VLINE
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 7 Erwan: Vinci Engine
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 8 Eric: Vinci and Vulcain 2.1 engine tests
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We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 9 Isabelle: Technical authority
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 10 Denis: test platform
We build Ariane 6 - season 1 episode 11 Fabien: Auxilary Power Unit
