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Europe\u2019s newest rocket, Ariane 6, took flight for the second time from Europe\u2019s Spaceport in French Guiana at\u00a013:24 local time on 6 March (16:24 GMT, 17:24 CET).<\/p>\n
This was the first commercial flight for Ariane 6, flight VA263,\u00a0delivering the CSO-3 satellite to orbit. Arianespace was the operator and launch service provider for the\u00a0French\u00a0Procurement\u00a0agency (DGA) and France\u2019s space agency CNES on behalf of the French Air and Space Force\u2019s Space Command (CDE).<\/p>\n
During this second launch, all phases were successfully executed, including the Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU) reignition, the Vinci engine\u2019s third boost and deorbiting of the upper stage.<\/p>\n
Ariane 6 is Europe\u2019s heavy launcher and a key element of ESA\u2019s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe\u2019s citizens. Its modular and versatile design allows it to launch all missions from low-Earth orbit into deep space. For this launch, the rocket was used in its two-booster configuration.<\/p>\n
Shortly after liftoff and booster separation, the upper stage separated from the core stage. The upper stage engine then fired for the first time, taking Ariane 6 into an elliptical orbit travelling 300 km at its closest to Earth, and 600 km at its farthest from Earth, achieving the \u2018chill-down\u2019 and first ignition of the Vinci engine and of the Auxiliary Propulsion Unit. After a \u2018coasting\u2019 phase lasting\u00a037 minutes,\u00a0the engine fired up for a second time.<\/p>\n
After Vinci\u2019s second boost, the rocket\u2019s passenger, a French satellite called CSO-3, was injected into Sun-Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of around 800 km. Spacecraft separation occurred\u00a0one hour and six minutes after liftoff.<\/p>\n
After the successful delivery of CSO-3, Ariane 6 demonstrated the full potential of its upper stage. The Auxiliary Propulsion Unit ignited as expected, and the Vinci engine\u2019s third boost put the upper stage into a reentry orbit to safely burn up through Earth\u2019s atmosphere, preventing accumulation of space debris. This confirms the full capability of Ariane 6.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n