“How far will we Europeans go in our naivety?” protests Philippe Baptiste, after the decision by the operator of European weather satellites to abandon the launch planned by Arianespace’s new heavy launcher, in favour of the American Falcon 9.
The Ariane 6 launcher must give Europe back its independence of access to space against Space X (illustration) (AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND)
Eumetsat, the operator of European weather satellites, canceled the launch of its MTG-S1 satellite by the Ariane 6 rocket in favor of the American SpaceX, a disappointment for the European launcher less than two weeks before its inaugural flight, reports
The world
. Contacted by AFP on Friday June 28, Eumetsat could not immediately be reached, while Arianespace, the company responsible for operating and marketing Ariane 6, did not comment.
According to
The world
the Eumetsat executive committee asked the board of directors representing the 30 member states to choose SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, canceling the contract signed with Arianespace four years ago.
The MTG-S1 satellite was due to embark on the third flight of Ariane 6 in early 2025.
The reasons which pushed Eumetsat to change tack and choose the American rocket are not specified. Ariane 6 is scheduled to make its inaugural flight from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou on July 9, four years late.
European satellites… on American launchers
Reacting on Linkedin, the CEO of CNES, the French space agency, Philippe Baptiste, deplored “a sudden change, because the flight was due to take place very soon” and “a very disappointing day for European space”.
“I look forward to understanding the reasons that could have led Eumetsat to such a decision, while all the major European space countries as well
that the European Commission calls for the launch of European satellites on European launchers”
he says.
“How far will we go, we Europeans, in our naivety”?
Philippe Baptiste also criticises the European Commission, which calls on it to take
“the necessary measures to ensure that all European institutional satellites are launched on small and large European launchers”
.
Before this setback, Ariane 6, whose planned rate is 9 launches per year, had 30 flights in its order book. It should give Europe independent access to space in the face of the behemoth SpaceX, which is planning 144 Falcon 9 launches this year.
