The European Space Agency (ESA) is set for a groundbreaking advancement with the imminent launch of the Ariane 6 Rocket
The European Space Agency (ESA) is set for a groundbreaking advancement with the imminent launch of the Ariane 6 rocket. It is Scheduled for the inaugural flight in July 2024, this new rocket will replace the Ariane 5, enhancing its capacity to handle a wider array of missions. After 27 years of service, the final mission of the Ariane 5 concluded on July 5, 2023. The development of its successor, the Ariane 6, began nearly a decade ago. “During those nine years, we made significant changes with a prime contractor and industrialist to better serve evolving needs,” explained Lucía Linares, ESA’s Head of Strategy and Institutional Launches, as per the reports.
A key highlight of this debut launch is the Replicator mission by Orbital Matter, a startup based in Warsaw and Berlin. This mission aims to demonstrate novel 3D printing technology in the challenging environment of space, beyond the protected confines of the International Space Station (ISS). Within the ISS, various 3D printers, such as the Refabricator by Made In Space (now part of Redwire), have proven effective in creating tools, spare parts, and medical supplies. Additionally, a bioprinter has been used to generate meniscus tissue.
The Replicator mission will further advance these technologies by testing a new 3D printing method in open space. A New Chapter in European Space Exploration the Ariane 6, designed to succeed the Ariane 5 as Europe’s heavy-lift launch system, features a restorable Vinci engine in its upper stage, allowing multiple powered manoeuvres for precise orbit insertions.
It was developed by ArianeGroup, a joint venture of Airbus and Safran under ESA’s oversight, this rocket supports various missions, from deploying satellite constellations to deep space exploration. On its maiden flight, the Ariane 6 will carry Orbital Matter’s Replicator mission.
This mission aims to evaluate a new 3D printing technology capable of operating in space”s vacuum and microgravity conditions. The onboard 3D printer will fabricate a 50 cm-long beam from a specialized polymer material while orbiting at 580 km (360 miles). This marks the first demonstration of 3D printing in open space beyond the ISS. Orbital Matter’s, Rapid Development Orbital Matter constructed the satellite, developed the payload, integrated it with the platform, and completed all necessary tests in less than four months. The testing campaign took place in Toulouse at Thales Alenia Space facilities, supported by the Space Business Catalyst Accelerator.
This accelerator helps space industry startups by providing resources, mentorship, and access to advanced testing facilities. Orbital Matter’s technology was selected for this flight through the Once Upon a RIDE! /ESA campaign, managed by Paris-based RIDE! Space. This campaign is part of ESA’s PUSH! Initiative, which funds and supports selected projects, enabling them to validate their technologies and expedite development.
This feature has flexible configurations with either two or four boosters, tailored to mission-specific needs. Each booster weighs 153 tons and supports the core’s thrust and payload requirements. “We have special equipment on board, the so-called APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), that helps us reignite the engine and deliver our customers to different points in space,” said Jens Franzeck, COO and Managing Director of ArianeGroup, according to the reports. A New Frontier Initial 3D printing tests in space began aboard the ISS in 2014, proving invaluable for the timely production of tools and spare parts. However, no method has yet demonstrated efficacy in the harsher environment beyond the International Space Station.
The Replicator mission aims to change this. Its direct manufacture in space offers numerous benefits, such as constructing large structures more efficiently and cost-effectively compared to launching them from Earth. Also, space manufacturing requires fewer materials, streamlining the process and reducing costs. This approach could enable the development of space-based solar power plants, communication antennas, enhanced scientific telescopes, and expanded Space stations.
The Orbital Matter’s 3D printing method is particularly suited for space conditions as it doesn’t rely on heat, which poses challenges in the vacuum of space. Cooling in space occurs through irradiation, a slow process that can take months.
