Energy News
ROCKET SCIENCE
Ahead of Ariane 6 launch, what are the other big rockets?
Ahead of Ariane 6 launch, what are the other big rockets?
by AFP Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) July 2, 2024

Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket is due to blast off for the first time next week, but it will launch into a quickly changing market for heavy space launchers increasingly dominated by SpaceX.

Here are some of the other big rockets competing for the lucrative job of hauling satellites and other missions into space.

- Ariane 6 -

The first flight of the European Space Agency's biggest rocket launcher is scheduled from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on July 9.

It will replace the workhorse rocket Ariane 5, which in 2023 carried out the last of 117 launches over nearly three decades.

When Ariane 6 launches with two boosters, it will be able to haul 4.5 tonnes of payload -- such as satellites -- into geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometres above Earth. Satellites in geostationary orbit follow Earth's rotation, so they appear fixed at a set spot.

It will also be able to take more than 10 tonnes into low Earth orbit, just hundreds of kilometres up. Unlike geostationary orbits, objects in low Earth orbit, including the International Space Station, spin around the world much faster and do not appear fixed.

This lower region will be home to 85 percent of the satellites that will be launched by 2032, according to the firm Euroconsult.

When Ariane 6 launches with four boosters, planned for next year, it will be able to deliver 11.5 tonnes into geostationary orbit and 21.6 tonnes into low Earth orbit.

It will also be able to deploy constellations of satellites across different orbits thanks to the reusable Vinci engine in its upper stage.

However the rest of the rocket is not reusable, unlike its chief competition, the Falcon 9 of billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX.

- Falcon 9, Starship -

Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket that has come to dominate the market. Since 2010, it has launched 350 times, including 91 last year -- two-thirds of which were for SpaceX's own Starlink satellite internet constellation.

Falcon 9 can take more than eight tonnes into geostationary orbit and nearly 23 tonnes into low Earth orbit.

Competitor Arianespace accuses SpaceX of charging the US government and NASA a premium price to use the Falcon 9, which lets the US firm offer low prices to its other commercial customers.

Also in SpaceX's stable of rockets is the larger and more powerful Falcon Heavy.

And it is working on the massive Starship rocket, the most powerful ever built, which plans to carry up to 150 tonnes in its reusable form and 250 tonnes when not reusable.

After three previous test flights ended with the Starship blowing up, last month the rocket held together and successfully splashed down for the first time.

- New Glenn -

After years of delays, the first flight of Blue Origin's reusable New Glenn is scheduled for September, according to its first customer NASA.

The rocket is nearly 100 metres (330 feet) tall, compared to Ariane 6's height of 62 metres. It will be able to carry 13 tonnes into geostationary orbit and 45 tonnes into low Earth orbit.

The US company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos is keeping quiet about its order book, but the rocket is expected to help launch Amazon's Kuiper satellite internet constellation.

- Vulcan Centaur -

The United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, launched its Vulcan Centaur rocket for the first time in January.

It is set to replace the company's workhorse Atlas V and Delta IV rockets, favourites of the United States for institutional launches.

The rocket, which has reusable engines, will be able to have up to six boosters, delivering more than 15 tonnes into geostationary orbit and over 27 tonnes into low Earth orbit.

- H3 -

Japan's new flagship H3 rocket made its inaugural flight in February. It can have up to four boosters and launch 6.5 tonnes into geostationary orbit.

- Angara A5 -

Russia's replacement for its ageing Proton rockets made its maiden launch back in 2014 -- but a test flight in April was only its fourth since then.

It can deliver 5.4 tonnes into geostationary orbit and 24.5 tonnes into low Earth orbit.

- Long March 5 -

China's Long March 5 has launched 12 times since 2016. It can take 14 tonnes into geostationary orbit and 25 tonnes into low Earth orbit.

mra-dl/spb/js/mca

Vinci

Amazon.com

BOEING

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Delta Air Lines

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
Chinese rocket takes off during test, causing local fire
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 01, 2024
Beijing: Space Pioneer, a Chinese aerospace company, experienced an accidental rocket launch during a developmental test in Gongyi, central China. Beijing Tianbing Technology Co, also known as Space Pioneer, reported that the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket detached from the launch pad during a structural failure test. Initial investigations revealed no casualties, according to the company's statement on its official WeChat account. Debris from the rocket stage landed within a designate ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
CEO of world's corporate climate arbiter to quit amid turmoil

EU needs to double investment to meet climate goals: report

'Climate neutral' ad claims must be backed up: German court

In Aberdeen, climate and energy take centre stage in UK election

ROCKET SCIENCE
Hydrovolt to open battery recycling facility in France

ITER fusion project marks completion of its most complex magnet system

New lithium plant inaugurated in Argentina

Protestors rally against Serbian lithium mine

ROCKET SCIENCE
Why US offshore wind power is struggling - the good, the bad and the opportunity

Robots enhance wind turbine blade production at NREL

Offshore wind turbines may reduce nearby power output

Wind Energy Expansion Planned for China's Rural Areas

ROCKET SCIENCE
Giant clams may hold the answers to making solar energy more efficient

Moving Beyond the 80-year-old Solar Cell Equation

Rutgers selects SolarEdge for Agrivoltaics Research and Development

Trump would 'irreparably' damage pace of clean tech roll out: Kerry

ROCKET SCIENCE
Framatome to update Instrumentation and Control System of Swiss NPP

Framatome secures EU funding for 100% European fuel development

Kazakhstan to hold nuclear plant referendum in autumn

Key neutron transfer mechanism could lead to advances in nuclear physics

ROCKET SCIENCE
Shell sees heavy writedowns in Q2 due to shelved biofuel project

Sky's the limit for biofuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Reduces Non-CO2 Emissions

Vast Gets Approval for Solar Methanol Plant in Port Augusta

ROCKET SCIENCE
Germany blocks sale of gas turbine firm to China company

Biden administration announces sale of 1M barrels of gasoline ahead of July 4 travel

US targets petrol tankers over Iran nuclear 'escalation'

Protesters target Chinese embassies over E. Africa oil project

ROCKET SCIENCE
Planting giant cactus to stave off desertification in Brazil

Painting roofs white helps lower city heat, studies say

'Not a lab experiment': climate tech CEO on green innovation

Climate protesters target UK's ruling Tories for second day running

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.