Europe is back in space. Running years behind schedule, Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket blasted off on its maiden flight, Tuesday, July 9, from the European Space Agency‘s launch site in French Guiana. The flight deployed three sets of micro-satellites for research purposes, prompting European space officials to declare the trip a success.
However, the mission didn’t go entirely as planned. The final batch of payloads — two small capsules designed to test the conditions for surviving re-entry — were not launched after a smaller power unit shut itself down for unknown reasons.
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Despite the setback, the European Space Agency said it is on track for another mission by the end of the year.
[KARAH RUCKER]
EUROPE IS BACK IN SPACE.
[TAKE SOT]
“Trois… deux… un. (more French) Decollage!”
[KARAH RUCKER]
RUNNING YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE — EUROPE’S ARIANE 6 ROCKET BLASTED OFF ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT TUESDAY FROM THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY’S LAUNCH SITE IN FRENCH GUIANA.
THE FLIGHT DEPLOYED THREE SETS OF MICRO-SATELLITES FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES… PROMPTING EUROPEAN SPACE OFFICIALS TO DECLARE THE TRIP A SUCCESS.
HOWEVER — THE MISSION DIDN’T GO ENTIRELY AS PLANNED.
THE FINAL BATCH OF PAYLOADS — TWO SMALL CAPSULES DESIGNED TO TEST THE CONDITIONS FOR SURVIVING RE-ENTRY — WERE *NOT* LAUNCHED AFTER A SMALLER POWER UNIT SHUT ITSELF DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
DESPITE THE SETBACK — THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY SAYS IT IS ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER MISSION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
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