KLIPPHAUSEN / KOUROU – It is a milestone for European space travel and a proud moment for the Free State of Saxony: with the successful launch of Ariane 6 in the powerful “64” configuration, Europe has impressively underpinned its ambitions in space. In the thick of it instead of just being there: Hightex Verstärkungsstrukturen GmbH from Klipphausen, a specialized member of the international Connova Group.
At 16:45 GMT on the dot, the engines ignited and Ariane 64 lifted off from the European spaceport with the combined power of four boosters. While the eyes of the world’s public were focused on the enormous flame phenomenon, high-performance components from Saxony were performing their critical service inside the rocket.
In aerospace, every gram counts, but in the engine sector there is no substitute for mechanical and thermal performance. Although the tailored fiber preforms developed by Hightex account for only 0.0093% of the total launch weight of the rocket, their significance for the mission is enormous.
Especially in the first 2 minutes and 42 seconds of the flight – the phase in which the structural and thermal loads reach their maximum – the components from Klipphausen have to show what they are made of.
“In this critical phase, failure is not an option. Our preforms have to withstand extreme temperatures, massive vibrations and complex load paths,” explains the company. “Every component is an integral part of system reliability.”
The success of this mission is not only proof of the performance of Hightex’s tailor-made fiber architectures, but also underlines the synergies within the Connova Group. As part of this strong group of companies, Hightex combines local materials expertise with global standards.
The reproducible quality that Hightex delivers even under the toughest operating conditions is the result of years of development work and close cooperation with the partners in the Ariane 6 program. Special thanks go to the production and development teams who make “Rocket Science” from Saxony possible in the first place.
With this successful launch, Hightex is sending out a clear signal: When it comes to mission-critical engineering, there is no way around precision from Klipphausen.