The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract to Arianespace to investigate the potential for crewed missions on the Ariane 6 rocket. The study, which began in October 2023 and is expected to conclude by the end of the year, aims to assess the suitability of the Ariane 6 launch system for human space transportation.
Credit: CNES
According to ESA Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen, the agency is exploring two options: modifying the Ariane 6 rocket to meet necessary safety standards for crewed flights or investing in a safety system for the capsule to ensure crew safety in case of launch failure. Tolker-Nielsen emphasized that the agency is seeking the best trade-off between these two options.
The contract, awarded to Arianespace with ArianeGroup as a subcontractor, is part of the Human Space Transportation Element of ESA's Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP). The study will examine operational and safety constraints related to crewed missions on the Ariane 6 launch system.
While the results of the study are not yet available, ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion hinted at the possibility of adapting Ariane 6 for human spaceflight during a post-launch press conference. Sion stated that a significant part of the additional safety required for crewed missions comes from the capsule.
Notably, ESA has not committed to using Ariane 6 for crewed missions, with Tolker-Nielsen emphasizing that the agency will ask industry to come up with proposals. This suggests that ESA is keeping its options open and may consider other launch systems for future crewed missions.
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