FIRST ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE ARIANE 6 CENTRAL CORE AND LAUNCH PAD FOR COMBINED TESTS

[Press Release Kourou, 12 July 2022]

• The first Ariane 6 central core was successfully transferred to its launch pad
  at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
• This is a decisive step for the combined launch vehicle tests, carried out under
  ESA’s responsibility and executed by an integrated ESA-ArianeGroup-CNES
  team
• Ariane 6 is a European Space Agency (ESA) program

The Ariane 6 central core (composed of the core stage and upper stage), assembled on 23 June,
left the Launcher Assembly Building for the first time, en route to its new launch pad, which was
built under the supervision of CNES, the French space agency, at Europe’s Spaceport in French
Guiana. This decisive and keenly awaited step was carried out by ESA and executed by an
integrated ESA-ArianeGroup-CNES team.
“The first encounter between Ariane 6 and its launch pad is a particularly important and symbolic
step, after years of parallel development at the factories in Europe and on this exceptional
construction site. We are now entering a phase of high visibility, with the complete launcher on its
launch pad. During these combined tests, we will continue to verify the innovative technologies
developed together, with a view to Ariane 6 qualification. This phase is essential not only for the
development of the launcher, in the run-up to its inaugural flight, but also to guarantee ramp-up in
line with the expectations of Arianespace’s institutional and commercial customers”, said AndréHubert Roussel, ArianeGroup CEO. “During this crucial period, all of the teams at ArianeGroup,
CNES and ESA, are hard at work to ensure that the combined tests are a success, thanks to their
diverse skills and close and fruitful collaboration. I thank them for their efforts and their unparalleled
expertise.”

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Read the entire PressRelease on the ArianeGroup homepage.