Upcoming Launch Attempts for Ariane 6 and Starship Scheduled for Thursday
Both Europe's Ariane 6 and SpaceX's massive Starship are set for their next launch attempts this Thursday, following recent cancellations earlier in the week.
SpaceX is planning to take the lead with its Starship launch slated for 12:30 AM CET, aiming to send the rocket on a journey that covers half the globe. Meanwhile, the first commercial flight of the Ariane 6 is expected to lift off at 5:24 PM CET. Both launches will be streamed live for audiences worldwide.
According to Arianespace, Europe's largest launch vehicle is in a stable and safe condition, with the previous launch postponed due to necessary ground work. SpaceX's CEO has indicated that both stages of the rocket require another thorough inspection before the launch.
The Ariane 6, which successfully launched for the first time last summer--albeit four years later than initially planned--addresses a critical gap in Europe's launch capabilities. The Ariane 5 had already been retired, leaving Europe without a dedicated vehicle for transporting large satellites to space until the Ariane 6 came online. The rocket can carry up to 11.5 tons to higher or 21.6 tons to lower orbits. For its upcoming mission, it will carry a military satellite for France, further emphasizing its importance in European space endeavors.
The Starship's eighth test flight comes after a dramatic failure in January, where the upper stage exploded just minutes after takeoff. Since then, several modifications have been made to the rocket. The upcoming launch will follow the same trajectory as previous tests, with the upper stage expected to reach the Indian Ocean, where it will deploy four dummies that mimic the size and weight of next-generation Starlink satellites, which are designed to burn up upon re-entry. SpaceX also plans to attempt recovery of the booster post-launch, with the event being streamed live on X.
As the aerospace industry continues to innovate and expand, these two launches represent significant milestones for their respective companies and for the global space sector.