Europe’s new rocket, Ariane-6, had a successful first flight from French Guiana at 16:00 local time. The rocket, which cost €4bn (£3.4bn), aims to give Europe independent access to space. However, there are concerns about its design compared to American reusable rockets.
Ariane-6 is similar to the previous Ariane-5 rocket and comes in two configurations, “62” and “64,” to carry different types of payloads. Europe is working towards making rockets reusable, but this won’t happen until the 2030s. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s Falcon-9 rocket offers competitive rates.
Despite this, Ariane-6 has secured launch contracts, including 18 launches for Jeff Bezos’s Kuiper internet satellite project. European officials hope to launch Ariane-6 monthly to establish its place in the market.
The project is led by France and Germany and receives funding from 13 European Space Agency member states. Although the UK was involved in Europe’s launcher program in the past, its participation in Ariane ended in 2003.
Vocabulary List
- Ariane-6 /???ri?æn s?ks/ (noun): The name of Europe’s new rocket.
- Configurations /k?n?f??j??re???nz/ (noun): Different arrangements or versions of something.
- Payloads /?pe?lo?dz/ (noun): The cargo carried by a rocket or spacecraft.
- Reusable /?ri?ju??zæb?l?ti/ (noun): The ability to be used again.
- Competitive /k?m?p?t?t?v/ (adjective): Offering a good value compared to others.
- Subsidy /?s?bs?di/ (noun): Financial support given to help fund a project.
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