A final order for a batch of 10 Ariane 5 rockets has been raised. The vehicle, which has been the mainstay of European launcher activity for the past 20 years, will be phased out once its successor is in place. ArianeGroup, the French-led industrial consortium, expects its new Ariane 6 to be flying no later than mid-2020, and in full operational service in 2023. At that point, Ariane 5 can be retired. The last order ensures sufficient rockets are available for the handover.
After a couple of early-career failures, the Ariane 5 has become a super-reliable vehicle. Its most recent outing in December was the 82nd straight successful flight. However, the vehicle is now considered too expensive for the way the launcher market is developing. And this need for change is emphasised by the rising prominence of the American SpaceX company which is able to recover and re-fly rockets, gaining further price advantage on top of the more modern production methods it uses.
The Ariane 6, although not designed for reusability in the first instance, will nonetheless have a considerably cheaper ticket price than the Ariane 5. This should be possible through a reduced workforce, more efficient production and the incorporation of advanced manufacturing techniques. ArianeGroup and its subsidiary marketing company, Arianespace, hope this will keep the European offering competitive in the face of the American challenge.
Well, I guess we will see if SpaceX make good on their much-vaunted 90% cost reduction through reusability.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42623300
As long as Europe doesn't dump outrageous amounts of money in military satellites that cannot be launched on foreign rockets, they will never be able to really close the gap with SpaceX.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, we should cut social security, public education and cultural funds and launch more spysats instead.
Maybe if 'murica spies on our social security programs via illegal spy satellite, they'll start to believe we're telling the truth... ?
ReplyDelete