The Ariane 6 (AR6) successfully launched from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana on July 9, 2024, at 9 PM local time. We congratulate ArianeGroup on the successful launch and wish the new European rocket many successful missions.
The most significant technological innovation of the AR6, the Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU), would not be conceivable without the contribution of ASP Equipment GmbH (ASP): It contains a crucial electronic component from ASP. The so-called Spark Injector generates sparks through high-voltage impulses which ignites the APU’s gas generator, enabling the multiple ignitions of the AR6 upper stage. In other words: without the Spark Injector, there would be no mission-specific boosts ot the Vinci engine.