Ariane 6

Ariane 6

Function	A62: Medium-lift launch vehicle A64: Heavy-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer	ArianeGroup
Country of origin	European multi-national[a]
Project cost	€3.6 billion[1]
Cost per launch	A62: €75 million A64: €115 million[2][3]
Size
Height	63 m (207 ft)
Diameter	5.4 m (18 ft)
Mass	A62: 530 t (1,170,000 lb) A64: 860 t (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	Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, H3, Vulcan Centaur
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Guiana Space Centre, ELA-4
First flight	9 July 2024[5]
Boosters – P120
No. boosters	2 or 4
Diameter	3 m (9.8 ft)
Propellant mass	142,000 kg (313,000 lb)
Maximum thrust	4,650 kN (1,050,000 lbf) each
Propellant	Al / HTPB
First stage
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)
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
Second stage
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)
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system operated by Arianespace and developed and produced by ArianeGroup on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). It replaces the Ariane 5, as part of the Ariane launch vehicle family.

This two-stage rocket utilizes liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen (hydrolox) engines. The first stage features an upgraded Vulcain engine from the Ariane 5, while the second uses the Vinci engine, designed specifically for this rocket. The Ariane 62 variant uses two and the Ariane 64 uses four P120 solid rocket boosters. The P120 is shared with Europe's other launch vehicle, the Vega C, and is an improved version of the P80 used on the original Vega.

Selected in December 2014 over an all-solid-fuel option, the Ariane 6 was originally targeted for a 2020 launch. However, the program encountered delays, pushing the first launch attempt to 9 July 2024.

Designed to halve launch costs and increase annual capacity from seven to eleven missions compared to its predecessor, the Ariane 6 has faced criticism for its launch price and lack of reusability. European officials defend the program, saying it provides crucial independent space access for its member nations.

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