The Ariane 6 first stages on their way to Kourou

• The Ariane 6 core stage and upper stage intended for the combined tests on the launch
  pad in French Guiana have left the ArianeGroup sites in Les Mureaux and Bremen and
  begun their journey to Europe’s Spaceport.

• These stages will be integrated by ArianeGroup in the Launcher Assembly Building
  (BAL) to create the central core for the Ariane 6 combined tests model.

• The combined tests are a crucial step in the development of Ariane 6: for the first time,
  the rocket and its new launch pad will be tested together and the Vulcain 2.1 motor will
  be hot-fired.

Press release ArianeGroup

[Bremen, Les Mureaux, January 4, 2022]:

The Ariane 6 core stage and upper stage are now en route to Europe’s Spaceport. After final
assembly at ArianeGroup’s Les Mureaux site and completion of all its functional acceptance tests,
the core stage was taken to the French port of Le Havre. The ship then sailed to Bremen, Germany,
to load the upper stage – assembled and inspected on-site by ArianeGroup – before setting sail for
French Guiana. The two stages are scheduled to arrive at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana in
January.
This first Ariane 6 specimen is intended for combined testing of the rocket with its new launch pad,
built under the supervision of the French space agency CNES.

[…]

Read more on the ArianeGroup Website.

Ariane 6 Combined test model core stage 1 (© ArianeGroup-PepperBox-Julien Hazemann).

Ariane 6 CTML Container (©ArianeGroup-PepperBox-Julien Hazeman).

Combined test model Upper Stage packaging and transportation (© ArianeGroup- Media GmbH – Frank T. Koch).

Combinde Test Model Upper Stage (©ArianeGroup- Media GmbH – Frank T. Koch)

Press Contact:
Astrid EMERIT – T. +33.6.86.65.45.02 astrid.emerit@ariane.group