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In a significant shift in satellite launch industry, Europe has turned to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets for deploying its satellites, a move prompted by the persistent delays in the development of the Ariane 6 rocket.
The Agreement with SpaceX
The European Union has finalized an agreement with the United States, allowing for the launch of four Galileo navigation satellites on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. This decision comes after the European Space Agency (ESA) faced setbacks with the Ariane 6 rocket, which has experienced several development and technical delays.
Launch Details and Security Measures
The Galileo missions are scheduled to occur later this year, with two launches of two satellites each from Florida. The satellites, weighing about 700 kg each, will be placed into an orbit approximately 22,000 km above Earth. Due to the sensitive technology onboard, heightened security measures have been implemented, including EU and ESA staff access to the launch pad at all times.
Launch Costs
The European Union has agreed to a 30 percent premium over the standard launch price for the Falcon 9 launches, amounting to 180 million euros, or about $196 million. This premium reflects the additional costs related to the national security mission associated with the Galileo satellites.
The Ariane 6 Delays
The Ariane 6 rocket, initially announced in 2014, was intended to replace the retired Ariane 5 and compete with other heavy-lift rockets in the market. However, its debut has been postponed multiple times, with the latest estimates pushing the first flight into 2024 or beyond. The delays have been attributed to various technical issues, including problems with ground equipment during hotfire testing. Arianespace's CEO, Stéphane Israël, told Radio France last month that a launch date for Ariane 6 will be set in September. "We are in the homestretch," Israël said of launch preparations, emphasizing that Ariane 6 is on the launch pad.
Europe's Launch vehicle Crisis
The delay of Ariane 6 has led to what some describe as a launcher crisis in Europe. It's predecessor, Ariane 5, was one of the most reliable launching systems worldwide, having achieved success across most of its 117 launches since an early failure on its debut effort in 1996. But with the retirement of Ariane 5 and the grounding of the Vega C rocket following a failure, Europe found itself without independent access to space. This situation has forced the European continent to turn towards SpaceX for several of its launches, including the Euclid space telescope and upcoming ESA Earth observation satellite and asteroid probe missions.
Looking Ahead
While the shift to Falcon 9 serves as a temporary solution, it underscores the challenges faced by Europe's space ambitions. The reliance on a competitor's launch vehicle highlights the need for Europe to expedite the development of Ariane 6 to regain its independent access to space and maintain its position in the global space industry. Critics say it's time to pursue more advanced technology, especially given SpaceX's success. Elon Musk's company is currently riding a streak of more than 200 consecutive successful launches with its reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. (Reusability is a feature that Ariane 6 will lack, but Israël has said that's a result of using technologies available from a decade ago, and that a new generation of reusable European rockets will come a decade from now.)
In conclusion, the collaboration between the European Union and SpaceX marks a pragmatic approach in ensuring the continuity of Europe's space missions amid unforeseen delays. It remains to be seen how this partnership will influence the future landscape of satellite launches and the eventual success of the Ariane 6 program.
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