Ariane rockets to be carried by airships, new deal with Flying Whales reveals

Image: Flying Whales

French company Flying Whales, a startup developing rigid structure airships, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Ariane Group to potentially use its LCA60T airship to transport parts and components for its Ariane 6 medium-heavy space launch vehicles.

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Flying Whales, whose initial focus was on forestry management applications for its airship technology, has been diversifying the scope of its projects, which now also includes the health and space industries.

Flying Whales is one of several major companies currently advancing the idea of a new generation of airships. Its flagship, the LCA60T, is advertised as a helium airship capable of transporting up to 60 tons of cargo while using environmentally friendly power.