Ariane 6
Mockup of Ariane 6 in the 64 configuration during testing at the Guiana Space Centre | |
| Function | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | ArianeGroup |
| Country of origin | European multi-national |
| Project cost | €3.7 billion |
| Cost per launch |
|
| Size | |
| Height | 63 m (207 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Mass |
|
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass |
|
| Payload to GTO | |
| Orbital inclination | 6° |
| Mass |
|
| Payload to GEO | |
| Orbital inclination | 0° |
| Mass | A64: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) |
| Payload to SSO | |
| Orbital inclination | 97.4° |
| Mass |
|
| Payload to LTO | |
| Orbital inclination | 97.4° |
| Mass |
|
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Ariane |
| Based on | Ariane 5 |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Guiana, ELA-4 |
| Total launches | 6 |
| Success(es) | 5 |
| Partial failure | 1 (VA262) |
| First flight | 9 July 2024 |
| Last flight | 12 February 2026 (most recent) |
| Boosters – P120C | |
| No. boosters | 2 or 4 |
| Diameter | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Propellant mass | 142,000 kg (313,000 lb) |
| Maximum thrust | 3,500 kN (790,000 lbf) each |
| Total thrust |
|
| Burn time | 130 seconds |
| Propellant | HTPB / AP / Al |
| First stage – LLPM | |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Propellant mass | 140,000 kg (310,000 lb) |
| Powered by | 1 × Vulcain 2.1 |
| Maximum thrust | 1,370 kN (310,000 lbf) |
| Burn time | 468 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / LH2 |
| Second stage – ULPM | |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Propellant mass | 31,000 kg (68,000 lb) |
| Powered by | 1 × Vinci |
| Maximum thrust | 180 kN (40,000 lbf) |
| Burn time | Up to 900 seconds and four burns |
| Propellant | LOX / LH2 |
Ariane 6 (French: [aʁjan sis]) is a European expendable launch system developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) and French Space Agency (CNES) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies, led by the prime contractor ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane rocket family, it is operated by Arianespace, replacing the Ariane 5. The project's primary contributors were France (55.3%), Germany (21%) and Italy (7.6%), with the remaining work distributed among ten other participating countries.
This two-stage rocket utilizes liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen (hydrolox) engines. The first stage features an upgraded Vulcain engine from Ariane 5, while the second uses the Vinci engine, designed specifically for this rocket. The Ariane 62 variant uses two P120C solid rocket boosters, while Ariane 64 uses four. The P120C booster is shared with Europe's other launch vehicle, and is an improved version of the P80 used on the original Vega.
Selected in December 2014 over an all-solid-fuel alternative, Ariane 6 was initially planned for a 2020 debut. However, the program faced delays, with the first launch eventually taking place on 9 July 2024. While the rocket successfully launched, the mission experienced a partial failure when the upper stage malfunctioned and was not able to complete its final deorbit burn. The second launch was therefore postponed to 6 March 2025, successfully delivering its first commercial payload to orbit, the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite.
Ariane 6 was designed to reduce launch costs and increase annual launch capacity from seven to eleven missions compared with its predecessor. As of 2026, the targeted launch rate has not yet been achieved, although when measured by cost per kilogram to orbit, costs have been reduced by 40%. The program has faced criticism over its development costs and lack of reusability compared with competing vehicles such as SpaceX's Falcon 9. European officials have defended the program, stating that it ensures independent access to space for participating member states.