Ariane 6

Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system. The first launch was in 2024. It has been in development since the early 2010s by ArianeGroup. They were creating it for the European Space Agency (ESA). The system was built to replace the Ariane 5. The stated reason for Ariane 6 was that it would cost half as Ariane 5. The new system would also increase the maximum number of launches each year from six or seven to up to eleven.^[6]

Ariane 6
European launch vehicle
Ariane 62 during testing at the Guiana Space Centre before its first flight
Has use	Medium-heavy launch vehicle
Manufacturer	ArianeGroup
Country of origin	European Space Agency
Project cost	€3.6 billion[1]
Cost per launch	€75 million (Ariane 62) €115 million (Ariane 64)[2][3]
Size
Height	63 m (207 ft)
Diameter	5.4 m (18 ft)
Mass	530,000–860,000 kg (1,170,000–1,900,000 lb)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	A64: 21,650 kg (47,730 lb) A62: 10,350 kg (22,820 lb)[4]
Payload to GTO
Orbital inclination	6°
Mass	A64: 11,500 kg (25,400 lb) A62: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[4]
Payload to GEO
Orbital inclination	0°
Mass	A64: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb)[4]
Payload to SSO
Orbital inclination	97.4°
Mass	A64: 15,500 kg (34,200 lb) A62: 7,200 kg (15,900 lb)[4]
Payload to LTO
Mass	A64: 8,600 kg (19,000 lb) A62: 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)[4]
Associated rockets
Family	Ariane
Comparable	Vulcan Centaur, H3, Titan IV, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy (reusable)
Launch history
Status	In Development
Launch sites	Centre Spatial Guyanais
First flight	Q4 2023 (planned)[5]
Boosters – Equipped Solid Rocket
No. boosters	2 or 4
Height	62 metre
Diameter	3 m (9.8 ft)
Propellant mass	142,000 kg (313,000 lb)
Powered by	P120
Maximum thrust	4,650 kN (1,050,000 lbf) each
Core stage – Lower Liquid Propulsion Module
Height	62 metre
Diameter	5.4 m (18 ft)
Propellant mass	140,000 kg (310,000 lb)
Powered by	Vulcain 2.1
Maximum thrust	1,370 kN (310,000 lbf)
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
Upper stage – Upper Liquid Propulsion Module
Height	62 metre
Diameter	5.4 m (18 ft)
Propellant mass	31,000 kg (68,000 lb)
Powered by	Vinci
Maximum thrust	180 kN (40,000 lbf)
Propellant	LH2 / LOX

Ariane 6 is designed with two core stages. They are both powered by liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen (hydrolox) engines. The first stage has a version of the Vulcain engine that is used on the Ariane 5. The second stage has a new design of the Vinci engine. Most of the lift-off thrust comes from solid rocket boosters attached to the first stage. There are two P120s on the Ariane 62 and four on the Ariane 64 variants. These are larger versions of the P80s used on the Vega rocket.

Description

Two versions of Ariane 6 are being created:

• Ariane 62 has two P120 solid boosters. It weighs about 530 t (520 long tons; 580 short tons) at liftoff. This version is intended for government and scientific missions.^[7] It can launch up to 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) into Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) and 10,350 kg (22,820 lb) into LEO.
• Ariane 64 has four P120 boosters. It will have a liftoff weight of about 860 t (850 long tons; 950 short tons).^[8] This version is intended for commercial satellite launches.^[7] It can launch up to 11,500 kg (25,400 lb) into GTO and 21,500 kg (47,400 lb) into LEO. Like Ariane 5, it will be able to launch two geosynchronous satellites together.