On June 17, the European Ariane 6 launch vehicle will take off for the first time with new, more powerful solid rocket boosters. This will enable Europe’s largest rocket to carry 36 internet satellites from the technology company Amazon, making the mission the largest of its kind to date for Ariane 6. Beyond Gravity supplied key technologies, like the payload fairing, dispenser system and thermal insulation.
On Wednesday, June 17, the European Ariane 6 launch vehicle will lift off from the European spaceport in French Guiana (South America). For the first time, it will fly with the new, more powerful P160C solid rocket boosters, which give the rocket additional thrust and make it the most powerful European rocket ever launched. This leap in performance is directly reflected in the mission: For the first time, Ariane 6 will transport a total of 36 Amazon Leo internet satellites into low Earth orbit - four more satellites than on the previous flight for the technology company Amazon. Beyond Gravity is contributing key components to Ariane 6. “The Ariane 6 rocket has never carried a larger payload. And our technology is crucial for this. We provided the dispenser that will deploy all 36 satellites into space. Our payload fairing protects the satellites on the way to space, and our insulation shields the rocket’s structure from the extreme heat of the main engine”, says Oliver Grassmann, Chief Operating Officer at Beyond Gravity.
Soon more than 360 Amazon Leo satellites in orbit
The ability to transport more satellites per launch reduces the cost of expanding the Amazon satellite fleet and significantly increases the efficiency of the missions. The third Ariane 6 flight for Amazon Leo, Leo Europe 3 (LE-03) also marks a significant milestone: After this flight, Arianespace will have placed a total of 100 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit; following this flight, there will be more than 360 Amazon Leo satellites in space. “The mission thus reflects the growing need for more powerful launch systems and demonstrates how the European space industry is meeting these requirements with targeted technological advancements,” says Oliver Grassmann.
Beyond Gravity’s dispenser places all 36 satellites into space
With the launch of Ariane 64, Beyond Gravity’s dispenser system is being deployed in Sweden. The modular deployment system was developed to efficiently and precisely place multiple satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). This dispenser system has already been successfully used in previous missions on other launch vehicles. The modular deployment system was developed and built in Linköping, Sweden. It forms the mechanical interface between the launch vehicle and the satellites.
Payload fairing protects the satellite
The company is supplying the Ariane 6 payload fairing, which was developed and manufactured at its Swiss site in Emmen. The approximately 20-meter-tall rocket nose cone is a structure made of carbon-fiber-reinforced composite material. It protects the satellites during launch and ascent into space from the extreme mechanical, thermal, and aerodynamic stresses of flight. “With our payload fairing, we are making a decisive contribution to ensuring that 36 satellites can be safely transported into orbit. This underscores the high level of innovation and expertise of our location in the international space sector,” explains Stefan Hofmann, Vice President Beyond Gravity Launchers Switzerland.
Two variants of the payload fairing
Ariane 6 comes in two variants: Ariane 62 with two boosters and Ariane 64 with four boosters. Beyond Gravity supplies a customized payload fairing for each Ariane 6 variant. Depending on the mission, the 14-meter-long short fairing is used for Ariane 6 with two boosters, while the 20-meter-long long fairing is used for Ariane 6 with four boosters. With the current launch of Ariane 64, Beyond Gravity’s 20-meter-tall payload fairing, approximately 5.4 meters wide, is being used. The payload fairing consists of two half-shells. These are cured in an industrial oven and are specifically designed to meet the rocket’s requirements.
Thermal insulation and special mechanism
At its Berndorf site (Austria), Beyond Gravity manufactured the high-temperature insulation for the Vulcain 2.1 engine of the Ariane 6 upper stage, including insulation for exhaust ducts and the engine base. The insulation protects the main rocket engine from temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Celsius. Beyond Gravity Austria also supplied thermal protection and a special mechanism for the re-ignitable Vinci engine of the Ariane 6 upper stage. The gimbal mechanism ensures the precise alignment of the Vinci engine. The specially developed mechanism weighs around ten kilograms yet transmits thrust forces of up to 15 tons.
About Amazon Leo
LE-03 is the third in a series of 18 planned Amazon Leo launches aboard Ariane 6. Amazon Leo - formerly known as Project Kuiper - is Amazon’s global satellite initiative to build a high-performance broadband network in low Earth orbit. The program’s goal is to provide fast and reliable internet access worldwide, particularly in regions that currently have no or only limited access to traditional terrestrial communication networks. To achieve this, a constellation of over 3,000 satellites is being developed. The network is intended to benefit schools, hospitals, businesses, and government institutions in underserved areas and, in the long term, help bridge the digital divide.
