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Hutchinson plays a central role in Ariane 6’s maiden commercial flight
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Hutchinson plays a central role in Ariane 6’s maiden commercial flight
Early March, Ariane 6 performed its maiden commercial flight, marking a historic moment for the European space industry.
The flight in a nutshell
- Ariane 6 lifted off from French Guiana carrying the CSO-3 satellite
- The mission went smoothly with all the key stages validated
- This launch heralds the start of a new era in European access to space
Hutchinson’s contribution
At Hutchinson, we are proud to have delivered our expertise to this major project. Our contribution specifically focused on the launcher’s thermal and cryogenic protection. We developed groundbreaking insulation solutions for the engines and tanks, thereby guaranteeing Ariane 6’s performance and safety under extreme conditions.
- Cryogenic insulation: protection of the liquid rocket propellant tanks and lines (-270°C) with multi-layer materials (MLI) and foam.
- Thermal protection: resistance to high engine temperatures (1,000-3,000°C) with protection for the launcher’s critical parts.
- Containment systems: inerting the cryogenic equipment by injecting nitrogen/helium.
- Launch pad insulation and test benches: safe and efficient launch operations and engine testing.
This success can be credited to a great collaborative effort. We would like to thank all the teams who made this achievement possible.
A promising future
This first commercial flight paves the way for many more Ariane 6 launches. At Hutchinson, we will continue innovating to support advances in space mobility.
Watch the launch again by clicking here.
To find out more about Ariane 6, click here.
