The European Space Agency said that the test launch of the Ariane 6 main stage was delayed again, this time due to problems with the ground equipment. In an August 30 update, ESA said the firing of the Ariane 6 main stage, scheduled for August 29 at the facility in Kourou, French Guiana, was delayed due to what the agency called a “technical issue affecting the control stand”. fuel loading and automatic countdown.

The test, which will run the Vulcain 2.1 engine for a few seconds, has been postponed to September 5. A longer test launch is also scheduled for September 26 at the spaceport.

This short-term test was previously scheduled for July but was delayed when the test period expired. The ESA later explained that the automatic countdown was interrupted “due to some measurements that exceed the set limits”. The agency postponed testing until the end of August to give crews a two-week summer vacation and to repair the pool used to burn off excess water-damaged hydrogen.

A separate test of the rocket’s booster engine is scheduled for September 1 at a facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany. This test was delayed to the end of July due to software issues.

ESA is also holding a media briefing on September 4 to update test results and other preparations for the long-delayed first launch of the Ariane 6. Earlier this month, ESA acknowledged that the initial launch has been delayed to 2024. , but did not specify a more specific date. Source