Réaltra provides Video Telemetry System for the first commercial flight of the new European launcher, the Ariane 6

Dublin, March 6th, 2025

Dublin-based Réaltra Space Systems Engineering were contracted by ArianeGroup to provide the Video Telemetry System for the first commercial launch of the new European launcher, the Ariane 6. On March 6th, Ariane 6 took flight for the second time and this was its first commercial flight. On board was the state-of-the-art technology Video Telemetry System (VIKI) designed, built and delivered by the Irish space engineering company, Réaltra.

The Ariane 6 is a launch vehicle designed and built by ArianeGroup on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). For the development of Ariane 6, ESA is working with an industrial network in 13 European countries, led by prime contractor and design authority ArianeGroup. Building on the success of its predecessors, the Ariane 6 will ensure Europe continues to have secure and autonomous access to space in the future. The first launch of the Ariane 6 rocket was on July 9th 2024 and Ariane 6 will launch a wide range of space missions over the next decade, including multiple payload missions.

Irish company Réaltra designed and delivered VIKI, the Video Telemetry System, which provided the live HD video telemetry images during all phases of the launcher mission, from cameras located on-board the Ariane 6 rocket.

Watch the 1st commercial launch of the Ariane 6 rocket here:

About Réaltra

Réaltra is the Irish word for “galaxy”, which is appropriate in the context of the company’s vision of creating innovative low-cost electronic systems for space applications. The Réaltra division of Realtime Technologies Ltd. was formed in January 2018 by Paddy White (CEO), Diarmuid Corry (CTO) and Danny Gleeson (CCO), each with long experience in the space sector, to focus specifically on the growing global space market for high-quality and high-reliability electronic systems, targeting the commercial “NewSpace” market, with a focus on the burgeoning global micro-launchers and small satellite sectors. Réaltra currently employs 23 people, including staff with significant space heritage to recent graduates of UCD’s Masters in Space Science & Technology and interns from Irish Universities. The company plans to employ up to 50 highly skilled people over the next few years. Realtime Technologies Ltd. is an Irish-owned company, employing over 50 people, that was founded by Paddy White in 1996 as a supplier of printed circuit board assemblies to the global IT, aerospace, automotive and medical device sectors. www.realtime.ie

Réaltra would like to acknowledge our technology partner Curtiss Wright.

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