Despite Failure, SpaceX Looms Large as ESA Readies Ariane 6 Contract

摘要

The head of the European Space Agency's launcher directorate on July 7 issued a surprising endorsement of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during a French parliamentary hearing that was ostensibly about the status of Europe's next-generation Ariane 6 vehicle. Gaele Winters, who is expected to ask ESA's check-writing body on July 16 to approve a nearly $3 billion contract with Airbus Safran Launchers to develop Ariane 6, said the June 28 Falcon 9 failure in no way changes ESA's assessment of SpaceX. "We have seen the outstanding success of Falcon 9," Winters said. "Despite the issue of about a week ago, it is a fantastic track record for this launcher."