From Rocket Assembly to Lizard Control: Inside Ariane 6’s new Approach
In Kourou, French Guiana, a massive hall has been transformed into what Ralf, the hall manager for Arianespace, describes as an “airport” for rocket components. This is where the various stages of Ariane 6, manufactured in europe and shipped by boat, are brought together for final assembly.
“The stages arrive ‘ready-made’. We just have to make the connection.Its an industrialized, standardized process, inspired by the aeronautics industry where planes are assembled horizontally,” Ralf explains. This horizontal assembly, unlike the vertical method used previously with cranes, allows for a significantly faster process – just eight days compared to the month it took for Ariane 5.
This efficiency is key to increasing the launch rate. While Ariane 5 managed around five launches per year, the goal with Ariane 6 is a dozen.
However, the team faces an unexpected challenge: lizards. These creatures have a penchant for short-circuiting equipment by chewing on the cables.
despite this, the new assembly process represents a critically important shift in approach. Guy Pilchen, head of the Ariane 6 program at the European Space Agency (Esa), explains that choosing a consumable rocket – one that is completely destroyed with each flight – is a strategic decision. “the choice of a consumable rocket like this responds to a balance, to our relatively low launch rate. Only if the launch rate is very high can the reusability of components become economically viable.”
Kourou Spaceport Eyes Expansion, Calls for Belgian Engineers
The european spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, is preparing for significant expansion to meet growing demand for launches, driven by the need for independent European space infrastructure, notably in light of geopolitical shifts. Michel Debraine, head of the European Space Agency (ESA) office in Kourou, highlights the need to increase launch capacity from the current 10-12 per year to 30 annually, and is actively seeking qualified Belgian engineers and technicians to support this progress.
Increased Launch Demand & Strategic Autonomy
The impetus for expansion stems from a changing global landscape. As Debraine explains, Europe is aiming to establish its own satellite constellations for critical infrastructure like secure communications, internet access, and navigation systems (akin to GPS). These constellations require numerous launches – a single constellation can consist of 300 satellites needing at least ten launchers, with ongoing replacements. The war in Ukraine has further underscored the importance of European strategic autonomy in space, reducing reliance on the United States.
“To be able to carry out these 30 launches per year, there are many things to achieve: bringing people in, modernizing and developing the facilities designed for 10-12 launches per year… With our 600 km2 basic, we have the space to do it, without even impacting nature,” Debraine stated. He emphasized that Europe had previously been content with a lower launch rate, supported by institutional launches and limited commercial demand. However, the current strategic surroundings necessitates a significant increase in capacity.
Expansion & Opportunities for Belgian Professionals
The Kourou spaceport, operated by Arianespace, is already undergoing expansion to accommodate the increased launch cadence. Debraine specifically appealed to Belgian professionals, noting that “We expect growth. We need young Belgians, engineers, technicians, who will come and support us in this development to come and work in Guyana. Belgians are perfectly qualified.” Currently, between 150 and 200 Belgian citizens are employed at the spaceport.
The expansion project will involve modernizing existing facilities and developing new infrastructure to support the higher launch frequency. This presents a range of opportunities for skilled professionals in various engineering disciplines,including aerospace,mechanical,electrical,and software engineering,as well as technical roles supporting launch operations.
Individuals interested in exploring opportunities at the Kourou spaceport can find more data on the Arianespace website and through the ESA careers portal.