ESA Ariane 6

Sferrin said:
It would almost certainly have insulation, even if it was just a regular metal tank.
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The point us not that it has an insulation, but it might require an insulation on the inside to prevent the resin from becoming too cold and brittle.

There are metall ollys which are suitable for very low temperatures, but is there a resin for carbon fibre??

Maybe this is a carbon tank, no fibre, no resin, who nows.
 
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A composite tank that can handle cryogens is no mean feat. Lasts just long enough to launch. Just not fit for manned sub use.
 
Problems related to embrittlement are critical even for short time operation, just like glass shatters in milliseconds. So stating that it's uncritical because of short operation time doesn' make sense at all.

Its good to save money when you can, but I wouldn't trust anybody who does complex submarine accident investigations for 200 bucks....
 
Ariane 6 evolutions [Nov 27]

Upgrades are being worked on for Ariane 6 to reduce costs, to make the launch system more robust and launch more often and increase global competitiveness. This provides institutional missions with dependable European launchers that function as critical enablers, upholding Europe’s autonomy and ensuring assured launch capability. Both Vega-C and Ariane 6 will benefit from the more powerful P160C rocket motor that will replace the current P120C.
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With regards to the Soviet/Russian SL-6 series of launch-rockets (Last launched by the ESA in 2022) when its' four boosters seperate if the weather's good the "Crossover of Korolev" can be observed from the ground. So I wonder when the first Ariane 64 (Which also has four SRBs) flies will we have a "Cross of Ariane"?​
 
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2002016461355638893
View: https://twitter.com/ESA_transport/status/2002016461355638893


Europe’s next solid propellant rocket motor passes review [Dec 19]

After firing up on ground at Europe’s Spaceport during a hot-fire test in April, the P160C solid propellant rocket motor has been thoroughly analysed, with a qualification review confirming its use for flight.

[...]

The P120C is currently used as a booster for the Ariane 6 rocket, and as the first stage for the Vega-C launcher. The upgraded P160C carries over 14 tonnes more solid fuel, increasing both rockets’ performance, increasing their payload capacity and competitiveness.

“Passing the qualification review is always a huge milestone in space design: independent teams have assessed the data packages, analysed the technical files and confirmed our design is robust,” says Alessandro Ciucci, ESA’s Programme Manager for both P120C and P160C.”

First flight and increased production

The first time P160C will be used is on Ariane 6, in a four-booster configuration providing the most powerful liftoff for Ariane 6 so far and scheduled for next year. The first four P160C solid-propellant rocket motors will now be integrated into four Ariane 6 boosters, ready for its flight.

Its debut on the Vega-C rocket is currently planned in 2028 with Space Rider.

With more launches foreseen, the ramp-up of production is building up to an industrial capacity of making 35 or more of the solid-propellant rocket motors a year.

The P160C has three main components. The first is the composite structure, manufactured by Avio in Colleferro, near Rome in Italy, obtained by filament winding and automated layup of carbon and epoxy pre-preg fibres. The second is the nozzle manufactured by ArianeGroup at its Le Haillan site near Bordeaux in France. It is made of composites materials, allowing the motor’s extremely hot gases – 3000°C –to be ejected at very high speed providing thrust. The nozzle is gimballed to control the flight of the launcher. Propellant loading and final motor integration are carried out by Avio and ArianeGroup joint subsidiaries in French Guiana (Regulus and Europropulsion).

The third element of P160C is the carbon-fibre composite igniter that ensures proper ignition of the motor. They are manufactured by Nammo in Raufoss, Norway, under Avio responsibility.
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ESA has released a new video about the latest Ariane 6 launch and its' payload:


On 17 December 2025, two new Galileo satellites lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. This was the 14th launch for Europe’s satellite navigation operational satellite programme, reinforcing Europe’s resilience and autonomy. The flight, VA266, was the first launch of Galileo satellites on Europe’s newest heavy-lift launcher Ariane 6.​
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The satellites, designated SAT 33 and SAT 34, separated from the launcher after a flight of just under four hours. The launch was declared successful after acquisition of signal and the confirmation that both satellites are healthy with their solar arrays deployed.​
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“With these new satellites, we strengthen Europe’s global navigation services - delivering greater precision, reliability and autonomy in space”, affirmed Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space.​
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“Galileo stands as the world’s most accurate global navigation satellite system – and today we have increased its reliability and robustness,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General. ​
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The European Space Agency was responsible for carrying out the Galileo launch with Arianespace on behalf of the European Commission. The Galileo satellites were manufactured by OHB, under contract with ESA. Now in orbit, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) brings the satellites into service and oversees their operation.​
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Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
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First flight of Ariane 6 (LE-01) is now scheduled for February 12th:

https://newsroom.arianespace.com/arianespace-to-launch-first-batch-of-amazon-leo-satellites-with-the-first-ariane-64-on-february-12-2026-419088?lang=eng

Arianespace to launch first batch of Amazon Leo satellites with the first Ariane 64, on February 12, 2026

15.01.2026

* On February 12, 2026, with the first Ariane 64, the most powerful version of Ariane 6, equipped with four boosters, Arianespace will place into orbit 32 satellites for Amazon Leo.
* Amazon Leo is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite network, whose mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks.
* The VA267 mission kicks-off the first of a series of 18 Ariane 6 launches contracted by Amazon Leo. Designated LE-01 (Leo Europe 01) by Amazon, it will be the first launch for the constellation performed with a European launcher.
* With this launch, Ariane 6, Europe's heavy-lift launcher, will demonstrate its full-power capability and its ability to meet the requirements of large-scale constellation deployments.

On February 12, 2026 local time, Arianespace will launch 32 Amazon Leo satellites with Ariane 64 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The precise launch window will be announced in the coming weeks.

The mission, called VA267 (LE-01 for Amazon Leo), will initiate the first of 18 Ariane 6 launches booked to support the deployment of the Amazon Leo constellation. It will also mark the first launch for the constellation performed by a European launcher.

VA267 will be the first flight of Ariane 6 in its full-power Ariane 64 configuration, capable of carrying payloads of more than 20 metric tons to orbit. The 32 Amazon Leo satellites will be accommodated under a 20-meter-long fairing and delivered by the Ariane 64 rocket to a Low Earth Orbit.

The mission will last a total of 1 hour and 54 minutes, from lift-off to separation of all the satellites.

Amazon Leo is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite network, whose mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks.

The VA267 launch at a glance:

* 359th launch by Arianespace, 1st Arianespace launch in 2026
* 6th Ariane 6 launch and 1st launch of Ariane 64, its most powerful configuration, and 1st use of Ariane 6's long fairing configuration
* 1st Arianespace launch for Amazon Leo, within a series of 18
* 1st Ariane 6 launch for a commercial customer
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Thales Alenia Space to supply 179 electronic units to fly on 27 Ariane 6 launchers [Jan 13]

Thales Alenia Space announces the signing of a contract to supply 179 electronic units to equip 27 Ariane 6 launchers. The contract was signed today with SABCA, the Belgian firm responsible for the launcher’s Thrust Vector Actuation Systems (TVAS), in which the units built by Thales Alenia Space in Belgium will be integrated. These units provide the electronics to power and control these subsystems in each of Ariane 6’s stages and boosters to keep it on course after launch.
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The Ariane Smart Transfer and Release In-orbit Ship (ASTRIS) complements the Ariane 6 rocket to increase its versatility, allowing it to reach an even wider variety of destinations. The ASTRIS orbital transfer vehicle will transport payloads between orbits, and take over when the Ariane 6 upper stage has finished its job. For example, Ariane 6 can deliver ASTRIS and its payload to a geostationary transfer orbit and then ASTRIS can fly the payload to its final geostationary orbit, saving time and payload fuel.

ASTRIS is an optional add-on stage for Ariane 6. A payload can be mounted on top of ASTRIS inside the rocket’s fairing offering more mission possibilities as it can extend the rocket’s flight –in duration and distance – and so carry payloads farther. Whereas the Ariane 6 upper stage can reignite up to four times thanks to its Vinci engine, ASTRIS can add even more ignitions to the mission, allowing for more mission flexibility.

More on ASTRIS: www.esa.int/astris
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https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/01/Astris_infographic
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/2014397753653186807
View: https://twitter.com/arianegroup/status/2014397753653186807

Ariane 64 campaign milestone: central core transferred to the launch pad

The central core of Ariane 64, composed of the main stage and upper stage, fully assembled, has been transferred from the integration building to the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

This operation marks a new step in the launch campaign, as the launcher is now positioned vertically on the launch pad, ready for the next phases of integration.

This first Ariane 64 embodies years of development, qualification and industrial ramp-up. It demonstrates ArianeGroup’s ability to deliver a powerful, modular and reliable launcher, designed to meet the most demanding missions.

With the central core now standing, teams will move forward with:
- The integration of the four P120C boosters,
- Transfer of the long fairing to the launch zone, and installation on the launcher,
- Launch readiness review,
- Final launch Countdown and liftoff.

At ArianeGroup, every milestone reflects the collective expertise of our teams, engineers, technicians and partners, working together to turn a new generation of launcher into operational reality.

The first Ariane 64 is now standing.
A new chapter for European launch capability is taking shape.

@Arianespace
@esa
@CNES
@EuropeSpacePort
@Amazonleo
#RocketMakers #Ariane6
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Here's an ESA time-lapse video showing the stacking of the first Ariane 64:


Timelapse video showing the central core for the Ariane 6 rocket arriving at the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The Ariane 6 rocket being assembled here will be the first to fly with four boosters, doubling liftoff thrust for the launcher, and see Ariane 6 take satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation to orbit.​
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Four automated vehicles transported the Ariane 6 central core from the launcher assembly building to the launch pad that is about 800 meters away on 21 January 2026.​
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Once at the launch pad, choreographed movements by two of the automated vehicles and a crane equipped with a lifting beam, raised the central core to its vertical launch position and placed it on the launch table. It was then rotated so that the stages’ fluid connections were positioned opposite the launch pad umbilicals that will supply the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel for launch.​
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The four boosters used on this flight were connected to the central core on the launch pad the next day. The booster structures are produced in Italy and then filled with solid propellant at Europe’s Spaceport at their booster finishing facility. Ariane 6 flight VA267 will be the first flight to use four boosters to get to orbit. Each P120C solid rocket booster is 13.5 m/44.3ft long and 3.4 m/11.2ft in diameter. Filled with about 142 tonnes/156.6 short tons of solid propellant, they provide around 4500 kN/1012.5Klb of maximum thrust. Working together the boosters will provide the majority of the thrust during Ariane 6’s launch to get it off the launch pad.​
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Ariane 6 in its four-booster configuration doubles the rocket’s performance compared to the two-booster version that has flown five times including the inaugural flight in 2024. The P120C boosters used by Ariane 6 are one of the most powerful one-piece motors in production in the world. Flying with four boosters takes Ariane 6 to a whole new class of rockets. With the extra thrust from two more boosters Ariane 6 can take around 21.6 tonnes/23.8 short tons to low Earth orbit, more than double the 10.3 tonnes/11.4 short tons it could bring to orbit with just two boosters. The flight will demonstrate and prove the performance of four boosters working together with the main stage in real flight.​
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Ariane 6 is Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, designed to provide great power and flexibility at a lower cost than its predecessors. The rocket provides Europe with greater efficiency and an ensures access to space for the benefits of humankind, allowing for all types of missions from exploration to navigation, science and communications.  ​
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Credits: ESA - M. Pédoussaut/Zetapress
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Ariane 6 is an utterly uninnovative Ariane 5 derivative with almost no original, let alone reusable, components whatsoever, except with the "feature" of having the *option* of not only two but four completelyly wretched solid boosters. I'm elated I don't pay taxes in Europe anymore...
 
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Totally agree with you martinbayer about Ariane 6 being a poor relation to Ariane 5. I personally cannot wait to see Ariane 7 appearing whenever that will be.
 
FighterJock said:
Totally agree with you martinbayer about Ariane 6 being a poor relation to Ariane 5. I personally cannot wait to see Ariane 7 appearing whenever that will be.
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I am willing to bet donuts against euros (gyros?) that it will *still* not incorporate *ANY* reusability at all whatsoever because of the utterly sickening one and done staunchly throwaway racket of the EU aerospace industry.
 
So true again martinbayer, I think that the EU got cought short with the arrival of SpaceX and their reusable rockets like Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. When will we see the European equavalent? I would not like to say right now.
 
The ESA has recently uploaded a short video about the Ariane 64:


Designed for versatility, Ariane 6 can adapt to each mission: flying with two boosters for lighter payloads, or four boosters when more power is needed.In its four-booster configuration, Ariane 6 can carry larger and heavier spacecraft into orbit, enabling some of Europe’s most ambitious missions — from science missions like PLATO to exploration systems such as Argonaut.​
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Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
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FighterJock said:
So true again martinbayer, I think that the EU got cought short with the arrival of SpaceX and their reusable rockets like Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. When will we see the European equavalent? I would not like to say right now.
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Arianespace is not getting the proper incentives. Most of European institutional launches "choose" Ariane because it's European, not because it's cheaper (just take a look at the shrapnel Eumetsat got when it chose to launch MTG with Falcon... They did not dare with EPS-SG)
The Reusable launchers in Europe are being developed by small private companies (true, there is some money put by EC and ESA)... But the development is going slow...
 
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oluen said:
Arianespace is not getting the proper incentives. Most of European institutional launches "choose" Ariane because it's European, not because it's cheaper (just take a look at the shrapnel Eumetsat got when it chose to launch MTG with Falcon... They did not dare with EPS-SG)
The Reusable launchers in Europe are being developed by small private companies (true, there is some money put by EC and ESA)... But the development is going slow...
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In which you completely fail to mention Maia space which is one of the most significant reusable launcher projects in Europe, especially now that it will be using the old Soyuz- ST launchpad.
 
martinbayer said:
Ariane 6 is an utterly uninnovative Ariane 5 derivative with almost no original, let alone reusable, components whatsoever, except with the "feature" of having the *option* of not only two but four completelyly wretched solid boosters. I'm elated I don't pay taxes in Europe anymore...
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Yeah it’s so useless that it’s been given multiple commercial launches by Amazon LEO.

I’m glad we have Ariane as we sure cannot rely on the US these days.
 
What if Europe had developed a reusable launcher that entered service in 2020 ?
Without access to Starlink and DOW launches, what would this European reusable launcher have been used for over the past 5 years?

Quite simply, in 2010-2015, when these decisions were made, there was not enough launch demand in Europe, at least until very recently, to justify a reusable launcher.

Would we have built 5 rockets and reused each of them 5 times over 5 years?
How is an industry supposed to survive when it is only producing 1 or 2 launch vehicles per year?

The SpaceX model works because of Starlink (and U.S. defense requirements).
 
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Flyaway said:
In which you completely fail to mention Maia space which is one of the most significant reusable launcher projects in Europe, especially now that it will be using the old Soyuz- ST launchpad.
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They had to spin-off from Arianespace, and enter into the "way of life" of much smaller companies to compete with the American "friend". Arianespace took too much time waiting for the development of an actual Reusable rocket, hence my mention to lack of proper incentives.
Also, I have to agree with you about having Arianespace in these moments of tension with the American ally. It is clear that the autonomy to reach space, at least from LEO to GEO (and not only for small satellites) is a must
 
Flyaway said:
Yeah it’s so useless that it’s been given multiple commercial launches by Amazon LEO.

I’m glad we have Ariane as we sure cannot rely on the US these days.
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I never claimed that it's useless, just a tax payer subsidized technological dead end.
 
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