Artistic rendering of the configuration of the Ariane 6 using four boosters. Photo Credit: ESA

The detailed definition of the design of Europe’s new Ariane 6 launcher was validated at the closing meeting of the Critical Design Review (CDR) held in Paris on September 25, which brought together the project management teams from the European Space Agency (ESA), French space agency CNES, Arianespace, and ArianeGroup.

This step marks the end of the detailed design phase for the Ariane 6 launcher and its means of production – a major milestone in the ESA program, for which ArianeGroup is lead contractor and design authority. Final technical adjustments and verifications will now be carried out.

“We are now entering the home stretch of Ariane 6 development. The launcher design is now validated and all the design decisions for the required launcher performance criteria in terms of production costs, reliability and versatility, have been finalized. We can begin the qualification phase for a first flight in the second half of 2020,” said André-Hubert Roussel, CEO of ArianeGroup.