Ariane 6 optical safety barrier

Kongsberg supplies optical safety barriers for Europe's heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6. It ensures the pyrotechnic control system used to self-destruct the rocket in case of a launch failure can never be triggered accidentally. The pyrotechnics use fibre-optics for control, so the safety barrier blocks or lets light pass as needed. Called OptoPyro, the system replaces traditional “electro-pyro” systems that use electricity to trigger small explosives. The optical system makes installation and checking before launch easier.