CNES Selects FTZ Software for the Development of Ariane 6
Through its technical expertise center, CNES (the French National Centre for Space Studies) plays a key role in the French and international space sector.
CNES works in collaboration with ArianeGroup, Ariane Espace, and the European Space Agency (ESA) to provide access to space, particularly through its launchers from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou. It is actively involved in the development of the new Ariane 6 launcher, a strategic program for European space exploration.
What types of software are used in the development of Ariane 6?
The development of a space launch vehicle such as Ariane 6 involves several categories of specialized technical software:
- P&ID software for modeling piping and instrumentation diagrams for ground facilities
- Electrical CAD software for producing electrical documentation and loop diagrams
- Document management tools for centralizing and maintaining technical data throughout the program’s lifecycle
These tools are essential both during the design phase and for the operation and maintenance of launch pads.
The development and operation of Ariane 6 require numerous piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) for the design of ground facilities, their upgrades, and for feeding control systems. Faced with the obsolescence of the previously used P&ID software, the CNES sites in Toulouse and Kourou have adopted FTZ’s SchemPID software—the tool selected to maintain current launch pads and design future Ariane 6 infrastructure.
Working closely with CNES, FTZ ensured the transfer of existing data and developed additional features in SchemPID to precisely meet the specific needs associated with space mission requirements. The teams use this software daily to maintain the existing sites and define new facilities, with a focus on optimal quality.
In addition, several subcontractors working on the Ariane 6 program have adopted the SchemELECT electrical CAD software to produce electrical documentation and loop diagrams.
The FTZ software packages SchemPID and SchemELECT have thus established themselves as standard tools in the design chain for the Ariane 6 launcher’s infrastructure.
More information on CNES: www.cnes.fr
