Europe's new heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 6, made its inaugural flight(esa.int)
esa.int
Europe's new heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 6, made its inaugural flight
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Europe_s_new_Ariane_6_rocket_powers_into_space
382 comments
Even though this is not impressive compared to SpaceX, it is still essential that we have multiple actors building rockets. The competition makes sure that SpaceX needs to push the boundaries. Our future as a multi-planetary species is not dependent on a single actor.
I'm hoping for some space race. It would be great if the United States would transfer a part of MIC funding to space exploration.
I'm hoping for some space race. It would be great if the United States would transfer a part of MIC funding to space exploration.
Unfortunately the mission didn't perform smoothly as intended at the end, there was an issue with the auxiliary power unit and it wasn't able to de-orbit once deployed the cubesats:
https://x.com/AndrewParsonson/status/1810794808828641546
https://x.com/AndrewParsonson/status/1810794808828641546
Previous livestream submission, just 16 hours earlier than this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40918284
Top comment from above submission:
Top comment from above submission:
mrtksn 18 hours ago
IIUC this is one of those projects that the governments fund when the free market solution doesn't exist.
Sure, Falcon 9 or Soyuz exists but those are foreign entities that might become unavailable due to politics, therefore a local solution must be developed even if its not the most cost effective. It also must help train and retain local talent and distribute funds to participating parties.
So, it may be a bit expensive but in the end you get a rocket, a workforce who knows how to design and build rockets and they happen to spend the money they receive locally.
IMHO they should invest in video production and art too, no one ever comes close to Space X in that department.
edit: Wow, so much negativity for a successful launch.This reminds me of reading about the launch of the HMS Dreadnought in 1906. The Dreadnought was a revolutionary battleship: a turbine engine made it faster than any other battleship, and it had all 12-inch guns (instead of a wasteful mix of small and large guns).
It was so clearly superior to all other battleships that the name "dreadnought" become a generic name for a modern battleship.
But here's the thing: navies around the world resisted building their own dreadnoughts. If you've spent your military treasure on pre-dreadnought battleships, how do you explain to citizens that they're all obsolete and you need to start from scratch?
And so it is with reusable rockets. In 2018, Alain Charmeau, an ArianeSpace exec, said that re-usable rockets make no sense because, "Let us say we had ten guaranteed launches per year in Europe and we had a rocket which we can use ten times—we would build exactly one rocket per year!" And that would be bad because what do you do with the employees? [1]
This is classic sunk-cost fallacy.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/05/ariane-chief-seems-f...
It was so clearly superior to all other battleships that the name "dreadnought" become a generic name for a modern battleship.
But here's the thing: navies around the world resisted building their own dreadnoughts. If you've spent your military treasure on pre-dreadnought battleships, how do you explain to citizens that they're all obsolete and you need to start from scratch?
And so it is with reusable rockets. In 2018, Alain Charmeau, an ArianeSpace exec, said that re-usable rockets make no sense because, "Let us say we had ten guaranteed launches per year in Europe and we had a rocket which we can use ten times—we would build exactly one rocket per year!" And that would be bad because what do you do with the employees? [1]
This is classic sunk-cost fallacy.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/05/ariane-chief-seems-f...
The bearishness, pessimism, and criticism in this thread—especially by just a handful of prolific commenters—is off-the-charts.
We have people comparing strategic assets and state-owned enterprises to private commercial enterprises. Well done.
We have people comparing strategic assets and state-owned enterprises to private commercial enterprises. Well done.
| Nevertheless, it had several passengers on board.
"passengers" → "payloads", I assume.
"passengers" → "payloads", I assume.
I guess something is better than nothing. But it's a shame to be launching something that seems obsolete from the start
Related discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40918284 (57 comments)
In Germany there are 3 companies, I heard in France 2 companies, I don't any in other parts of Europe but there are definitely but I suppose the European rocket start up pipeline is filled.
P. S. HN please tell me about your (European) nation's future rocket builder.
P. S. HN please tell me about your (European) nation's future rocket builder.
Too bad they are not equipped to rescue the 2 astro
nauts Boeing has been left stranded on the ISS for over a month.
There they are munching up unbudgeted food and oxygen.
Which will not be a problem, since ISS should have a reserve supply for 3 months, but it should impact the the next supply run.
Will Boeing bring them back?
I would think NASA has reached out to SpaceX, and possibly the Russians (? in today political climate?) and asked what their rescue capabilities might be. SpaceX seems likely to be able to prepare rescue rocket fairly quickly?
There they are munching up unbudgeted food and oxygen.
Which will not be a problem, since ISS should have a reserve supply for 3 months, but it should impact the the next supply run.
Will Boeing bring them back?
I would think NASA has reached out to SpaceX, and possibly the Russians (? in today political climate?) and asked what their rescue capabilities might be. SpaceX seems likely to be able to prepare rescue rocket fairly quickly?
> Beyond the great emotion I am feeling right now, my first thoughts are for all the teams in Kourou, Paris, Vernon, Les Mureaux, Toulouse, Bremen, Lampoldshausen, Liège, Barcelona, Colleferro, Zürich and everywhere else in Europe who made this success possible.
Would the UK have been a part of this pre-Brexit?
Would the UK have been a part of this pre-Brexit?
This is great! Now we're waiting for Themis to become a reality.
I’m happy it exists but it’s incredibly disappointing how non competitive it is. There was a lot of hubris in the project in the beginning and now it’s clear that they are years behind. Which in turn makes future funding a challenge I’m sure.
I really hope they don’t give up and manage become more ambitious.
I really hope they don’t give up and manage become more ambitious.
"but muuuh SpaceX ftw!"
The inspection costs needed for reusability are undervalued by the SpaceX fantroopers.
The inspection costs needed for reusability are undervalued by the SpaceX fantroopers.
thank you
[deleted]
No mention of an engine failure and the last payload could not be delivered. It is now floating helplessly in orbit, effectively turned into space debris, endangering other projects.
6-10 years from now Ariane Next/SALTO will aims replicate Falcon 9 efficiency and the design will be very similar: reusable, RP-1/LOX, Prometheus engine is similar reusable open cycle engine as Merlin with lots of 3D printed parts.