A model of the Ariane Smart Transfer and Release In-orbit Ship (ASTRIS) complements the Ariane 6 rocket to increase its versatility, allowing it to reach a wider variety of destinations and transfer to different orbits. ASTRIS features a steerable main engine that can reignite multiple times to perform orbital changes, and it has six thrusters to perform manoeuvres such as reorienting itself in space along its trajectory.

ASTRIS does not just extend Ariane 6 mission time and allow reignition, it can also deliver two payloads to different orbits.

The design includes two pairs of propellant tanks. They can be different sizes to match the propellant needed for each mission, keeping the weight of ASTRIS to a minimum. Combined with BERTA’s reignition capability, ASTRIS can deliver satellites for a small constellation directly into their operational orbits, allowing for the satellites to be smaller and cheaper to build.

ASTRIS is part of ESA’s Ariane 6 product adaptations programme, which is improving Ariane 6’s capabilities to meet changing market demands and support European autonomy in science and Moon and Mars exploration programmes. The hardware is being developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) by ArianeGroup at their site in Bremen, Germany.