Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse, France, has started assembling ESA’s Ariel mission structural model, a critical step in preparing the mission for its scheduled launch.
The Ariel mission, short for Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, aims to study around 1,000 exoplanets across visible and infrared wavelengths. It’s specifically designed to measure the chemical composition and thermal structures of these planets and link this information to their surrounding environments.
Ariel’s goal is to deepen our understanding of planetary formation and evolution, with implications for exploring questions about our own Solar System and the potential for life beyond Earth.
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Structural model development and testing
The structural model currently being assembled at Airbus replicates the spacecraft’s mechanical framework, emulating the weight and configuration of its key components.
Divided into two main sections, the model includes a replica of the service module and a simplified version of the payload module. The service module houses crucial elements like propulsion and power systems, while the payload module will eventually contain science instruments, including a one-meter-class cryogenic telescope.
Before full assembly, this structural model will undergo a comprehensive mechanical test campaign, anticipated to conclude by the end of the year. These tests ensure Ariel’s design meets strict specifications and can handle the physical demands of launch. The model will be subjected to rigorous vibration tests on a “shaker” table, exposing it to a range of simulated launch conditions. It will then be placed in a reverberating chamber to endure acoustic tests, where intense noise levels replicate the launch’s sonic environment.
Additionally, the model will be used for separation and shock testing. Engineers will mount it using the same system intended for the Ariane 6 launch, examining load distribution and separation dynamics. These tests are crucial for confirming that Ariel’s systems will remain stable and functional under the extreme conditions of space travel.
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Scientific mission goals and collaboration
Ariel is set to launch on an Ariane 6.2 rocket and will journey to the second Lagrangian Point (L2), a stable position in space about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
From this vantage point, it will carry out its detailed observations of exoplanet atmospheres, marking it as the first mission to focus on the chemical and thermal characteristics of these remote planets. By surveying a large and diverse sample of exoplanets, Ariel also aims to address fundamental questions about how planets and their host stars interact and influence each other.
The mission’s findings are expected to shed light on the earliest stages of planetary and atmospheric formation, potentially revealing clues about the conditions that may support life. The mission involves a large collaborative effort.
The Ariel Mission Consortium, which includes over 50 research institutions across 17 European countries, provides the mission’s payload module, containing the telescope and scientific instruments. NASA is also contributing to the payload.
Ariel is the third in ESA’s series of exoplanet missions and follows Cheops, launched in 2019, and Plato, set for a 2026 launch. These missions form part of ESA’s broader Cosmic Vision plan, a program aimed at addressing pressing questions in space science and exploration. Ariel was selected as the fourth medium-class mission within this plan in 2018.
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