07.09.2023
The Vulcain 2.1 engine fires successfully ! Clemessy takes part in Ariane 6 combined tests for CNES
Our Clemessy experts are taking part in the Ariane 6 combined qualification tests, working alongside the CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales) on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). They are implementing the measurement system used to verify and qualify the interfaces between the launcher and its launch pad, from the ELA-4 launch zone at the Guiana Space Centre. At the beginning of the week, a four-second ignition of the Vulcain 2.1 engine should enable them to confirm that the components on the ground and on board the launcher are working well together, as forecast.

During the combined qualification tests for the Ariane 6 launcher, the ELA-4 launch zone must be equipped with a number of measurements enabling a static firing test to be carried out on the main stage of the Ariane 6 launcher. "These measurements enable the test to be qualified, while actively contributing to the safety of the launcher. High performance measurement are set up at launcher to monitor some of the measurements”, explained Clemessy project manager Alexandre Batail.
The System for Acquisition, Visualization and Archiving (SAVA) and the Launch Assembly Measurement System (SYMEL) are connected to test bench Ariane 6, enabling the system to be controlled via start-up commands, acquisitions and health status feedback. SAVA and SYMEL communicate with the test bench, the nominal means of preparing and monitoring the launcher before firing.
SAVA and SYMEL also serve as interfaces for "specific measurements", which are correlated with a set of sensors. "These sensors are used to characterize the Ariane 6 launch pad environment, as well as voltage and current levels at the interfaces between the ground and on-board components," continued Alexandre Batail.
Technical operation of these measurement systems is based on five electrical bays dedicated to measurement acquisition and coordinated around a server bay. A thousand acquisition channels (temperature, TOR, pressure, vibration, acoustic, etc.), associated with the Dewesoft Data Acquisition System (DAQ), are also required. And the link between SAVA and CBLP is fully secured by our cybersecurity experts.
The Ariane 6 launcher test and qualification flight is scheduled for the beginning of 2024, subject to successful completion of the combined test phase and Vulcain 2.1 engine firing.
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