if you launch from mainland Portugal south like Vandenberg, no problem
from Azores launch like the from Kennedy space center east, it goes over Sahara desert, its population almost zero.
the french dit this with Diamant A launches too
The 1st and 2nd stages for the maiden Ariane 6 flight have come together. Once the integration process is complete, the stacked rocket will be transferred to the Mobile Gantry and lifted into a vertical position. Credit: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE-ArianeGroup / Optique vidéo du CSG
The 1st and 2nd stages for the maiden Ariane 6 flight have come together. Once the integration process is complete, the stacked rocket will be transferred to the Mobile Gantry and lifted into a vertical position. Credit: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE-ArianeGroup / Optique vidéo du CSG
Notice the Boudoir type of fund allocation that will plague France access to space as much surely that it did in the 1950s with the frenzy of gov financed prototypes that led to nothing.
Was there any RFI, RFP? No. Too much cliché, I guess.
Note that the two concepts shown in Barrington Bond's post were developed as part of the FESTIP program, FLTP was the follow up program that began in 1999.
For those who may be unfamiliar with those Ariane 6 incarnations, some background can be found below:
Note that the two concepts shown in Barrington Bond's post were developed as part of the FESTIP program, FLTP was the follow up program that began in 1999.
Aerospatiale didn't take part in the ESA-funded FESTIP (which started in 1994), nor did France in official capacity (CNES, although Dassault and other subcontractors did,), FESTIP was more German than French, with DASA in a leading role.
Taranis was an early (late 80s to early 90s) self-funded study by Aérospatiale.
It followed and was concurrent to the CNES-funded Dassault Star-H and Aérospatiale STS 2000 studies.
Compared to the STS 2000 studies, it didn't have any airbreathing propulsion, it started in a "stacked" position (Orbiter on top of first stage, like Starship), before moving the orbiter to a piggyback position ("shape 1.1") then ended with the orbiter on the belly of the S1. The first stage was "transatlantic", with landing in Dakar, Bermuda or the Azores, FESTIP's "Hopper" (which gave EADS's Phoenix) would also use this first stage trajectory.
It was under the direction of H.Lacaze, Hermes director at Aerospatiale.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.