Business hours as in rural California where restaurants close at 7 pm? But you are right, vacation is pretty great here…

Sure it can. Battery state, temperature and all is controlled by software…

Okay lets see. What I meant is: at its time, the Ariane 5 was a great program. Now is a different time. Now we have got SpaceX (and RocketLab etc.) and at the same time the Ariane 6 is already outdated before it is ever launched. At the same time, the Ariane 6 program has run into major delays, so it is not even clear when the first launch will be – probably 2024.

Reusable rocket technology is where it’s at if we as Europeans want to stay relevant in the commercial launch sector.

The Soyuz is not a bad rocket, neither is the Ariane. It is just that technology has advanced quite significantly in the last few years. And rockets are just a (very visible) part of space technology.

I somewhat agree. The only way forward in most areas would be European projects. But we are lacking competent and agile institutions. They got so big and bloated – that for me it looks like they are not able to reform themselves. So first we need good (european) organizations, then we can pour the money over them…

I am a proud European, but do not kid yourself. The United States are light years ahead in space technology. The Ariane program is a complete clusterfuck as of now.