As Europe stands on the cusp of a new era in space exploration, the imminent launch of the Ariane 6 rocket from the Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, signifies more than just a technological milestone.
It represents the continent's stride towards reclaiming its independent access to space.
At the heart of this mission are Raymond Boyce, Aline Decadi, Anne-Sophie Chassagne, and Romain Delordre, each of whom bears the responsibility of potentially halting the launch if any anomalies arise.
The countdown
Raymond Boyce is the director of operations for this inaugural launch. On launch day, he will be positioned centrally within the Jupiter Mission Control Room, overseeing a series of computer screens that track every step of the launch procedure.
“It’s quite relaxed at the start,” Boyce noted. “But as we approach the one-hour mark before launch, the atmosphere intensifies as we begin the dialogue with the launcher".
Boyce’s crucial role is the final checkpoint of a meticulous process, ensuring that all systems are green-lit for the launch.
He is the last person with the authority to press the red button to halt the mission, a decision that could be triggered by even the smallest irregularity detected on his screens.
The troubleshooter
Aline Decadi, the Ariane 6 Launch System Dependability and Safety Lead Engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA), plays a pivotal role in ensuring the rocket’s preparedness.
She uses the rocket's digital twin to anticipate all kinds of issues and find solutions.
"I also inject some failures in our simulations to, make them more robust, to solve the problem, to find the solution to any kind of failure," she said.
Decadi, a motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys riding in the jungle during her stints in Kourou, has been involved with the Ariane 6 project since its inception nearly a decade ago.
"Two years ago, we started the tests and tested all the safety barriers and mitigations," she says. “We tested everything we could to ensure the launcher’s readiness".
The weather greenlight
While Decadi's work is grounded in technical precision, Anne-Sophie Chassagne's position at the weather station introduces an element of unpredictability.
Chassagne, a meteorology engineer from the French Space Agency (CNES), makes a decision on the launch's go-ahead based on weather conditions.
"I am very excited and can't wait for the launch. I hope everything goes well, but I am sure everything will go well," she said optimistically.
It was both the worst and best day of my life.My body was shaking as I pushed the red button.
The weather team’s involvement begins the day before the launch with an extensive briefing for key decision-makers.
On launch day, Chassagne and her colleagues provide continuous updates on six critical weather criteria, three of which are related to wind conditions and three to lightning risks.
These updates are essential for determining whether the launch can proceed safely.
"The perfect day for a launch is sunny, with no strong wind, and no risk of lightning," she explained.
Chassagne recalled the nerve-wracking experience of halting the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) launch due to adverse weather conditions.
"It was both the worst and best day of my life," she admitted. "My body was shaking as I pushed the red button".
The final weather report, delivered ten minutes before the launch, is critical. Following this, Chassagne and her team move to a secure bunker away from the launch pad.
The last team
If the launch is successful, there is a team that will not be able to join the celebrations right away.
Romain Delordre, Telemetry Manager at Kourou from CNES, is one of those who will still be keenly focused on the rocket.
On the day of the launch, Delordre and his colleagues start at T-minus 10 hours. They track the rocket's trajectory to ensure it follows the correct path and assess the performance of its systems and components.
And they keep monitoring it after the launch.
"So we're there when everyone has applauded for the satellite separation; we remain there until the end of the launcher mission, roughly about three hours after the launch," he said.
This is not only crucial for the current mission but also for collecting data for future ones.
Ariane 6 is set to debut on July 9. The new facilities at the Ariane 6 Launch Centre, both above and below ground, are specifically designed to support rocket launches for the next decade.
