@spaceflight Not especially, it's not a programme they are directly responsible for or have a vested interest in. EU programmes effectively "subcontract" the delivery to ESA. If ESA were skipping mentions of Ariane 6 to "save face" or something that would be a story
@spaceflight Look, I don't know if the EU/ESA difference looks trivial from where you are sitting but they are completely different bodies with very different objectives and responsibilities and, importantly, very different memberships. You frequently use the EU flag when you're talking about ESA, so forgive me if I pick up on this point
@spaceflight Yep and I still understand the difference between ESA and the EU, do you? Three quarters of ESA activities (by value, never mind by volume) have nothing to do with the EU. You can't represent ESA using a blue flag with yellow stars on it, and yet you do. All I've been asking you to do is to think about whether you really mean ESA or EU when posting, take it or leave it. Peace out
@spaceflight I'm not defending Ariane 6, there's plenty wrong with it, it's just that I'm not convinced the EU's attitude to it makes it into the top 10
📆 Apr 18, 2023 🇪🇺 #European#SpacePolicy combined the worst of the parochial politics that guide #NASA funding in the #US with the sluggish ⏳ activity of a traditional aerospace company accustomed to guaranteed contracts. Naturally, therefore, development of the project has lagged and gone over budget. In the nine years since Europe began development of the #Ariane 6 to compete with #SpaceX, the #Falcon9 rocket has nearly doubled its payload capacity 📈 and become partially reusable, so it is now more capable and costs 💵 far less 📉 https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/04/europes-ariane-6-rocket-is-turning-into-a-space-policy-disaster
There have been at least three factors that have precipitated a crisis in #European 🇪🇺 launch.
One is the rise of #SpaceX, which, through its reusable #Falcon9 rocket, has come to dominate the commercial market with prices 💵 about half 📉 those offered by the #Ariane rockets.
Secondly, the #Ariane6 rocket has been delayed ⏳ from its original goal of launching in 📆 2020.
Finally, there is the #cost issue. #ArianeGroup wants 350 million euros 💰💰💰 a year, which would essentially wipe out any cost savings from going to the #Ariane6 rocket.
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