Whether launching new satellites to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6's first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher.
The Young Professionals Satellite will remain attached to the Ariane 6 upper stage, recording the historic flight from the moment the fairing separates and the other passengers first see the darkness of space, to the very end as the stage and satellite deorbit and burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
As well as documenting the vital stages of launch and supporting other missions, YPSat gives the team of about 45 entry-level professionals hands-on experience and a high level of responsibility in designing, building and testing space technology.
Two challenges will keep the YPSat team particularly busy once the mission is launched: transmitting YPSat's data while it remains attached to the Ariane 6 upper stage, and ensuring the spacecraft wakes up earlier than traditional missions do.
"This opportunity to be part of the Ariane 6 inaugural flight puts YPSat at the forefront of a historic moment in European space exploration," explains Tuur Strobbe, YPSat Project Manager and Graduate Trainee at ESA's ESTEC technical heart in the Netherlands.
"To make sure our spacecraft eyes are open on time, ready to record Ariane 6's two huge half fairings as they split and separate from the rocket, we've developed a custom autonomous 'Wake up System'. This system uses a variety of sensors to detect the liftoff of the launcher and determine where in the launch timeline we are at that moment, this way we can pinpoint the exact moment for the YPSat mission to begin".
During the launch, the YPSat team will even be situated in a control room at ESA's ESOC mission control centre from where they will receive telemetry from their mission.
Ariane 6 can put any satellite or payload into any orbital path.
YPSat will witness it all, recording this historic flight live from the front row.
Find out about all the missions that will be flown on Ariane 6's first flight and get all the latest in the run up to launch on the Ariane 6 homepage and Space Transport on X..