activeESA / ArianeGroup
Ariane 6
Europe's next-generation heavy-lift rocket replacing Ariane 5. After multiple delays, Ariane 6 completed its inaugural flight on July 9, 2024, from Kourou, French Guiana. Available in two configurations — A62 (2 solid boosters) and A64 (4 solid boosters). Critical for Europe's guaranteed independent access to space after reliance on Soyuz ended in 2022.
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Budget
€4B+ development (ESA member states)
Timeline
2014–ongoing
Key Milestones
Ariane 6 inaugural flight (A62 configuration) from Kourou — partial success, upper stage anomaly
2024 — Jul
Second Ariane 6 flight; operational Galileo satellite deployment
2025
Ramp to 6–8 flights/year; A64 first flight for heavy GTO missions
2026
Full operational cadence targeted at 8–12 flights/year
2027
Contractors
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Sources
- esa.int/ariane6
- arianespace.com