Europe's next-generation heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, available in two- and four-booster configurations for a range of orbits.
Ariane 6
Europe's next-generation heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, available in two- and four-booster configurations for a range of orbits.
Description
Ariane 6 is the latest evolution of the Ariane rocket family, developed by ArianeGroup under contract to the European Space Agency (ESA) and operated commercially by Arianespace. Designed to replace the Ariane 5, Ariane 6 is available in two configurations: Ariane 62 (two solid strap-on boosters, P120C) and Ariane 64 (four solid P120C boosters), targeting different payload mass requirements.
The rocket's upper stage is powered by the Vinci cryogenic engine, which features multiple restartability — enabling complex mission profiles such as the deployment of payloads in multiple orbits, and de-orbiting of the upper stage post-mission to limit space debris. The Vinci engine was a key element enabling Ariane 6 to provide affordable single-launch GTO and multi-orbit delivery missions.
Ariane 6 conducted its inaugural flight in July 2024 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The vehicle's payload fairing (5.4 m diameter, up to 20 m long) accommodates single large geostationary telecommunications satellites or multiple medium or small satellites in a stacked or dispenser configuration.
Arianespace offers Ariane 6 for government and commercial customers globally, with a focus on institutional European payloads (Galileo navigation satellites, Copernicus Earth observation satellites) and commercial geostationary communication satellites.
Specifications
| Ariane 62 payload to GTO | ~3,500 kg |
|---|---|
| Ariane 64 payload to GTO | ~5,000 kg |
| Ariane 62 payload to LEO | ~10,300 kg |
| Ariane 64 payload to LEO | ~21,600 kg |
| Upper stage engine | Vinci (restartable, LOX / LH2) |
| Strap-on boosters | P120C solid boosters (2 or 4) |
| Fairing diameter | 5.4 m |
| Height | ~63 m |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana |
| First flight | July 2024 |
