{"id":15319,"date":"2024-07-12T17:07:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T17:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1408490"},"modified":"2024-07-12T17:07:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T17:07:14","slug":"can-ariane-6-turn-europes-spacetech-startups-into-global-powerhouses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=15319","title":{"rendered":"Can Ariane 6 turn Europe\u2019s spacetech startups into global powerhouses?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Ariane 6 suffered a glitch on its first flight, the mishap felt strangely inevitable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly half of all rockets fail on their first launches. After a troubled development and four years of delays, Ariane 6 looked like a prime candidate to join the list. <\/span><\/p>\n

The launcher was commissioned to create a European pathway into the cosmos. Since the retirement of Ariane 5<\/a> last July, the continent has had no independent access to space<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thierry Breton, the EU\u2019s commissioner for the internal market, described the problem as an \u201cunprecedented crisis.\u201d A failure to launch on Tuesday would have deepened the woes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thankfully, the setback was only minor. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ariane 6 successfully blasted off<\/a> and deployed research satellites in orbit. The problem arose late in the flight, when the rocket\u2019s final components failed to de-orbit. Nonetheless, the mission was declared a success.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a historic moment,\u201d said Luc\u00eda Linares, the European Space Agency\u2019s<\/a><\/span> (ESA) head of space transportation strategy. \u201cIt\u2019s good for Europe. It\u2019s also good for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ariane 6 is now set for a first commercial launch in December. A further six are scheduled for next year and another eight in 2026. <\/span><\/p>\n

St\u00e9phane Isra\u00ebl, the CEO of Arianespace, which operates the rocket, said the glitch would have \u201cno consequences on the next launches.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

His words brought welcome relief to European spacetech. The sector has big opportunities, but desperately requires new launch infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The need for Ariane 6<\/h2>\n

Mark Boggett, the CEO of investment firm Seraphim Space<\/a>, awaited the launch with bated breath. He believes Ariane 6 can provide a big boost to spacetech.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe increased access will no doubt accelerate the pace of innovation and deployment of new space technologies in Europe,\u201d he tells TNW.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boggett has big ambitions. Through his company\u2019s investments, he hopes to turn European startups into global sector leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n

That plan had been stalled by Ariane 6\u2019s lengthy delays. While they waited, companies relied on launch services in other regions \u2014 particularly the SpaceX service in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rocket can now remove that bottleneck. European spacetech no longer has to rely exclusively on foreign providers and has a path to strategic autonomy. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Ariane 6 lifted off from the European Spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday. Credit: ESA\/S.Corvaja and M.P\u00e9doussaut<\/figcaption>