Rocket Report: Ariane 64 to debut soon; India has a Falcon 9 clone too?

In the latest edition of the Rocket Report, excitement builds as NASA prepares for the rollout of its Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, gearing up for the Artemis II mission. While a specific launch date remains unconfirmed, preliminary estimates suggest a no-earlier-than launch on February 8, contingent on the success of an upcoming wet dress rehearsal involving rocket fueling. Our correspondent Stephen Clark will be on-site for the rollout, providing firsthand coverage of this pivotal event. In other news, MaiaSpace, a subsidiary of the ArianeGroup established in 2022, has secured a significant launch agreement with satellite operator Eutelsat, according to reports from Le Monde. This contract includes a substantial portion of the 440 satellites Eutelsat has commissioned from Airbus to enhance its OneWeb constellation. Previously, MaiaSpace entered into contracts with Exotrail for an orbital transfer launch and with U-Space for two satellites tied to the Toutatis defense project. The inaugural test flight of the Maia rocket is set for late 2026 at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, marking a delay from its initial schedule. Consequently, the first missions carrying OneWeb satellites are anticipated to commence no earlier than 2027. Notably, the Maia rocket, which utilizes a liquid oxygen-methane propulsion system, is designed to deliver up to 500 kg to low-Earth orbit with a recovered first stage, and an impressive 1,500 kg when fully expendable.