\tEnabling & Support<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAriane 6: made in Germany<\/a><\/p>\n In the 16th century, German fireworks maker Johann Schmidlap developed one of the first two-staged rockets, and the staged technique of rocketry is still used to launch rockets such as the Ariane 6 into orbit today. As one of the largest contributors to the Ariane 6 programme, Germany carries Schmidlap\u2019s legacy forward, providing 20.8% of the funding and supplying several parts for Europe\u2019s heavy-lift rocket.<\/p>\n The upper stage for Ariane 6 is tested\u00a0at the P5.2 test bench at Germany\u2019s DLR centre for engine and stage testing in Lampoldshausen, Germany. It provides operating conditions representative of a flight from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, with the exception of vacuum and microgravity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This series of articles is looking at the parts and components needed to assemble the Ariane 6 rocket \u2013 supplied by companies from the 13 ESA Member States participating to the Ariane 6 programme. Together they contribute the best of their know-how to build Europe’s heavy-lift launcher under the guidance of main contractor ArianeGroup who also designed the Ariane 6 rocket.<\/p>\n \tNot-so-heavy metals <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tMT Aerospace production hall for Ariane 6<\/a><\/p>\n MT Aerospace is responsible for making the upper and core inter-tank structures, the upper and core stage tanks, parts of the Vulcain 2.1 engine and the front and rear skirts for the boosters. Taken together, these components account for approximately 10% of the launcher.<\/p>\n The upper and core stage tanks and inter tank structures are made of aluminium lithium, a lightweight alloy that maximises durability and minimises weight. MT Aerospace also introduced an innovative method to form components by integrating artificial intelligence into the \u2018shot peening\u2019 process of improving the metal by striking it repeatedly to help increase the performance and decrease the cost of the new launcher.<\/p>\n \tHelium under pressure <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tAriane 6 helium tank<\/a><\/p>\n Enrichment Technology Company designed, developed, qualified and manufactures the carbon fibre helium tanks for Ariane 6. The tanks are used on both stages of the rocket. Standing just over a metre high and 80 cm in diameter, each tank holds 374 litres of helium and can operate at pressures up to 400 times that of Earth\u2019s atmosphere. The unique \u201cType-IV\u201d design, is plastic-liner wrapped with carbon and weighs much less than traditional metallic tanks.<\/p>\n Unlike the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen that fuel the rocket, helium is a nonreactive gas. It is used to pressurise the fuel tanks, pushing the liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the combustion chamber. It\u2019s also used in the Ariane 6 cooling systems.<\/p>\n \tProviding propulsion<\/p>\n