[Article déjà publié le 29 août 2024]
On July 9, 2024, Ariane 6 made its very first flight and gave Europe the opportunity to return to the forefront of the international space scene. But let's go back a little and leave the skies to go to sea and more precisely to the Atlantic Ocean. Indeed, between Europe and South America, a somewhat special ship called Canopy was responsible for transporting the baby from ESA and ArianeGroup.
The very first ship of its kind
Boats serve several purposes. They can be used for fishing, for scientific studies, for the pleasure of sailing or even for the transport of goods. But if there is indeed a category of boats which did not exist before the start of the construction site Canopythese are those specialized in the transport of rockets.
And it was in 2020, in the Polish port of Sczezcin that the project of Canopy saw the light of day. Three years later, he completed his Atlantic crossing by linking the port of Rotterdam to that of Kourou in French Guiana.
A hybrid boat
In addition to being the first transport boat specialized in transporting rockets between Europe and South America, Canopy is also a hybrid propulsion boat. Certainly, this is not new in the naval field, but it is worth noting.
Indeed, if it obviously relies on thermal energy (fuel) to move on the water, the European Space Agency's boat also relies on one of the oldest sources of energy to move. move on water: the wind. And in this, it is also the first carrier of its kind.
And Canopy has four sails arranged on either side of the ship which have little to do with traditional sails that can be found on replicas of old boats. No, they almost look like blades or large oars.
And the fact of not relying solely on thermal energy to allow the movement of the rockets allows, according to the ESA, to “reduce emissions and save 30% on fuel.”
The dimensions and characteristics of Canopy
Twelve times a year, Canopy will connect Europe to South America to deliver Ariane 6 spare parts so that the European rocket can carry out its missions.
But let's take a closer look at what this special ship has in its belly. And here is its technical sheet:
- Length: 121 meters
- Width: 22 meters
- Sail height: 37 meters
- Sail area: 363 m2 (x4)
- Displacement: 10,000 tonnes
- Maximum speed: 17 knots or 31 km/h
In detail, its journey takes place first in Europe where it passes through four ports, including two French ones, in order to load the different parts of the European rocket:
- Bremen – Germany: for the upper stage of Ariane 6
- Rotterdam – Netherlands: for the rocket fairing, the one that protects the satellites
- Le Havre: for the central stage of Ariane 6
- Bordeaux: to recover solid propulsion elements
From there, Canopy leaves Europe and sails towards Kourou and its spaceport which the ship generally reaches in ten days. On site, the rocket is unloaded, then assembled before being duly prepared for launch.
Source: ESA
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
