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Ariane 6 started operations less than a year ago, and already development is under way for the next generation. Funding is partly coming from the EU, so the pol

Ariane 6 started operations less than a year ago, and already development is under way for the next generation. Funding is partly coming from the EU, so the political process has very much started. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_Next https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_Next I'm not disputing the fact that the EU is behind the US and China, but again the EU budget is way below. Given the financial limitations ESA is actually quite capable.

panick21_ 6mo ago
Before Ariane 6 there were also many already existing programs that were independent. Ariane 6 still needed a very specific coming together politically and vote for development. So yes, there is research going on, and certain program to develop components. But that is a very long way away from an actual concrete proposal to develop a real new rocket. The Vinci engine for example started in the 90s and only flew first time with Ariane 6. So you could have said in 2002 'Ariane 6' is in development. The question is when do the politicians get together and actually decide, lets spend 4+ billion$ (minimum) on a new rocket. And that is years away at best. And from that point on you would expect it to take minim 6 years, more likely 10 years. Anybody that expect anything Ariane 7 like before 2035 is hopelessly optimistic. Not unless there is a major political shift. > Given the financial limitations ESA is actually quite capable. No its not. Ariane 6 development has cost more then the development of Falcon 9 + Falcon Heavy. And that's if you do not count development of Vinci, if you do not count most development of the static boosters and so on. You can say 'we are so poor' and then spend 5-6 billion $ on a rocket that is not competitive with Falcon 9 as it existed in 2015 and then spend another couple billion $ on giving subsidies to all the users of Ariane 6. Funding isn't the problem, efficiency and good choices is.

panick21_ 6mo ago

Before Ariane 6 there were also many already existing programs that were independent. Ariane 6 still needed a very specific coming together politically and vote for development. So yes, there is research going on, and certain program to develop components. But that is a very long way away from an actual concrete proposal to develop a real new rocket. The Vinci engine for example started in the 90s and only flew first time with Ariane 6. So you could have said in 2002 'Ariane 6' is in development. The question is when do the politicians get together and actually decide, lets spend 4+ billion$ (minimum) on a new rocket. And that is years away at best. And from that point on you would expect it to take minim 6 years, more likely 10 years. Anybody that expect anything Ariane 7 like before 2035 is hopelessly optimistic. Not unless there is a major political shift. > Given the financial limitations ESA is actually quite capable. No its not. Ariane 6 development has cost more then the development of Falcon 9 + Falcon Heavy. And that's if you do not count development of Vinci, if you do not count most development of the static boosters and so on. You can say 'we are so poor' and then spend 5-6 billion $ on a rocket that is not competitive with Falcon 9 as it existed in 2015 and then spend another couple billion $ on giving subsidies to all the users of Ariane 6. Funding isn't the problem, efficiency and good choices is.