The inaugural launch of Europe’s next-generation Ariane 6 rocket is set for July 9, 2024, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The heavy-lift launcher Ariane 6 is the successor to the extremely successful Ariane 5 rocket. The European Space Agency (ESA) announced the retirement of Ariane 5 from its service when it flew last time on July 6, 2023.
The powerful and versatile Ariane 6 rocket will ensure Europe’s independent access to space.
The European private aerospace company ArianeGroup has developed the powerful Ariane 6 rocket under the guidance of the European Space Agency (ESA).
Over 60 meters tall, the Ariane 6 rocket will weigh almost 900 tons when launched with a full payload.
The Ariane 6 rocket will be available in two variants:
— Ariane 62 (the main Ariane 6 rocket with two boosters), which is capable of launching approximately 4500 kg payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or 10,300 kg payloads into low Earth orbit.
— Ariane 64 (the main Ariane 6 rocket with four boosters), which is capable of launching approximately 11,500 kg payloads into geostationary transfer orbit and 20,600 kg payloads into low Earth orbit.
The main Ariane 6 rocket has two stages:
— the lower stage, or core stage, which is powered by a liquid oxygen-hydrogen Vulcain engine. This lower stage, together with the solid rocket boosters, can deliver 135 tons of thrust in vacuum.
— the upper stage, which is powered by a liquid oxygen-hydrogen Vinci engine. This Vinci engine of the upper stage is reignitable, which allows Ariane 6 to launch multiple missions on different orbits on a single flight. The Vinci engine will burn multiple times to reach the required orbits.
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