Rocket science is a different ball game altogether with timelines stretching years, not days. The journey of Ariane 6, Europe’s flagship heavy-lift rocket, began with a proposal in 2014, leading to a green light in 2016. The development phase from 2017 to 2019 involved rigorous testing of engines like Vulcain 2.1 and Vinci, alongside building a new test bench and launch site in French Guiana.
The pandemic posed challenges in 2020-2021, but Ariane 6 bounced back in 2023 by testing its mainstage and fairing. By 2024, the rocket is all set for its inaugural flight, carrying cargo and scientific experiments into space.
The ultimate goal is to achieve a launch rate of 10 per year by 2027 while maintaining versatility for various missions. As Tina Büchner da Costa puts it, Ariane 6 is like an eierlegende Wollmilchsau, offering milk, wool, and eggs—symbolizing its versatility for diverse space endeavors.