European Space Woes: Ariane 6 Launch on Track Despite Aborted Test and Missing Parts

The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that the first launch of the Ariane 6 rocket is still on track for mid-2024, despite an aborted test of its upper stage. The recent test, known as CTLO3, was successful and demonstrated the rocket's readiness for launch. However, a previous test of the upper stage, called HFT-4, was aborted due to parameters exceeding predetermined thresholds. ESA is investigating the cause of the abort but remains confident that it will not impact the Ariane 6's inaugural flight schedule. Additional tests are planned for early 2024, with the first Ariane 6 launch hardware expected to arrive in mid-February.