ArianeGroup is committed to Beyond Gravity for the long term

(CONNECT) ArianeGroup, based in Les Mureaux, and Beyond Gravity have signed a long-term supply contract for the operational phase of Ariane 6, the two companies announced in a joint statement. The federally owned space agency is to supply the prime contractor for the European heavy-lift launch vehicle with 20 payload fairings, each 20 meters long, and seven payload fairings, each 14 meters long, for Ariane 6 flight models 16 through 42. Depending on the mission, the Ariane 6 will be equipped with either a short or a long payload fairing.

Beyond Gravity has manufactured the payload fairings for all Ariane missions since the launch of Ariane 1 in 1979. "We are very pleased to continue our fruitful collaboration with Beyond Gravity," ArianeGroup CEO Christophe Bruneau is quoted as saying in the press release. “The agreement demonstrates that cooperation is essential to ensuring Europe’s competitive and independent access to space.”

According to Beyond Gravity CEO Barbara Frei-Speiter, this order—the largest to date for the company’s launch vehicle business—marks “an important milestone” both for the company and “for Europe’s space program as a whole.” “With our ability to mass-produce highly complex launch vehicle structures to the highest quality standards, we are making a key contribution to the competitiveness of the European space industry.” The press release does not provide any details regarding the financial value of the contract. ce/hs