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Ariane 6
The workhorse of Europe's space industry, Ariane 6 is a powerful, highly versatile and scalable launcher, capable of carrying out a wide range of missions in all types of orbit.
Europe's heavy-lift launch vehicle
Ariane 6 lifted off for the first time, and with flying colours, from Europe's Spaceport on 9 July 2024. With its 6th-generation flagship launch-vehicle family, Europe is focusing on modularity and cost-sharing.
There are two versions of Ariane 6 :
• Ariane 62, with two boosters, is lighter and less expensive, and will be able to carry up to 4.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit or 10.3 tonnes into low-Earth orbit.
• Ariane 64, with four boosters, will be able to carry up to 11.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit or 21.6 tonnes into low-Earth orbit.
This modularity means that the launch vehicle can suit any target orbit, and therefore any mission involving Earth observation, telecommunications, scientific experimentation or navigation satellites.
The ESA developed Ariane 6 in collaboration with a network of manufacturers in 13 European countries, coordinated by ArianeGroup, which acts as prime contractor and design authority. CNES, the french space agency, designed and built the launch facilities at Europe’s Spaceport. ArianeGroup is responsible for operations up to lift-off, at which point its subsidiary Arianespace, the launch vehicle operator, takes over.
Technical characteristics
Ariane 6 is composed of three main parts or stages : the boosters, a main stage and an upper stage.
Height: 56 or 62 m (depending on the fairing used)
Diameter: 5.4 m
Lift-off weight: 540 tonnes (AR62) or 870 tonnes (AR64)
The boosters, of which there are two or four depending on the launch vehicle version, are positioned on the side of the main stage. Each contains 142 tonnes of solid propellant. For 130 seconds after lift-off, they provide most of the launch vehicle's thrust before separating from it.
The cryogenic main stage is powered by the Vulcain 2.1 liquid oxygen and hydrogen engine. It operates for the first eight minutes of the launch up to an altitude of around 275 km.
The upper stage is also propelled by liquid oxygen and hydrogen. Its tanks contain 30 tonnes, used by the Vinci engine. The stage can be re-ignited up to four times, enabling it to adjust its trajectory to reach its target orbit more easily, place several satellites in orbit in a single mission and also de-orbit the stage once the mission has been completed, to minimise space debris.
The upper composite includes the fairing and its satellite(s). The fairing, with a height of 14 or 20 metres, protects the satellites from aerodynamic, thermal and acoustic disturbances during lift-off. Composed of two half-shells, it opens to separate from the launch vehicle once it has left the atmosphere. With the SYLDA (Ariane ’s dual launch system), already used on Ariane 5, Ariane 6 can place two large satellites in orbit in a single launch.
With its innovative systems, Ariane 6 is also able to meet the requirements of more complex missions, such as launching large constellations of satellites, released in batches in several different orbits.
Composition of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle.
Preparing for a launch
Arrival of the main components
The main components of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle are transported from Europe to French Guiana by sea, onboard the ship Canopée.
They arrive at the port of Pariacabo in Kourou and are dispatched by road convoys to the various assembly buildings at the Ariane 6 launch complex.
Assembling the main core
The first two stages of the launch vehicle are assembled horizontally, unlike previous French and European launch vehicles, which were all assembled vertically.
This part of the campaign lasts for 6 days, compared to 15 days for its predecessor, Ariane 5.
It begins when the lower and upper stages are removed from their respective containers and brought into the launcher assembly building (BAL), using automated trucks guided by magnetic strips built into the floor.
Once these two stages are assembled and electronically connected, the main core of Ariane 6 is ready to be transferred to the launch zone.
Transferring the main core
Once the first two stages have been assembled, the main core is transferred from the launcher assembly building (BAL) to the launch pad, 800 metres away. Once within the mobile gantry, it is set vertically and attached to the launch table by means of an overhead crane, which surrounds the launch vehicle and enables its assembly to be finalised.
Transferring the boosters
Ariane 6’s boosters are filled with solid propellant and assembled at the Spaceport, in the various facilities that make up the booster zone, before being stored in the Booster Storage Building (BSB). Depending on the version of the launch vehicle, two or four boosters are then transferred to the launch zone.
They are transported vertically using a special flatbed truck (a vehicle for carrying heavy loads).
Encapsulation and final assembly
In the Encapsulation Building, the satellites are attached to the Payload Adapter, the structure that connects them to the launch vehicle's upper stage. They are then enclosed inside two half-fairings, which are firmly locked together. This assembly forms the upper composite of the launch vehicle.
The upper composite arrives at the launch pad two days before launch. It travels the 8.5 km to Ariane 6 launch facilities on a 186-tonne, 6-metre wide, 26-metre long vehicle specifically designed to transport it safely: the Upper Composite Trailer (UTC).
As soon as it arrives, the upper composite is hoisted onto the launch vehicle using a lifting arm on the mobile gantry, and the upper part is integrated into the main core.
Final operations and lift-off
Almost time for launch. Checks are carried out right up to the last minute to ensure that the launch vehicle is ready to carry out its mission and that the launch pad is operational.
On the day of the launch, after checking the weather conditions, the mobile gantry is moved back eight hours before the scheduled lift-off time.
As of five hours before launch, the oxygen and hydrogen tanks on the launch vehicle's two stages are cooled and filled with propellant.
Everything is ready for lift-off.
The launch process
10, 9, 8, 7 ,6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Lift-off!
The Vulcain 2.1 engine ignites first, to automatically check eight operating parameters.
If they are correct, at the precise time of lift-off (T0), the simultaneous command to ignite the boosters and separate the cryogenic links is sent for lift-off.
A water deluge is then activated to protect the launch vehicle and its satellites, as well as the launch pad, from the extreme effects of lift-off.
After lift-off, the various components of the launch vehicle separate in series: first the boosters, after just over two minutes of flight; then the fairing, once the launch vehicle has exited the atmosphere; and finally the main stage with the Vulcain engine, eight minutes after lift-off.
The re-ignitable Vinci engine then takes over to propel the upper stage to the satellites’ various target orbits.
Once the satellites have separated, the engines are switched off and the upper stage is de-orbited so that it can burn up as it re-enters the atmosphere.
Mission accomplished for Ariane 6!
Ariane 6 final assembly process
An Ariane 6 launch campaign in pictures.
Arrival and unloading stages of the Ariane 6 launcher at the port of Pariacabo in Kourou.
Assembly of the main core of the Ariane 6 launcher at the launcher vehicle assembly building (BAL).
The main core of the Ariane 6 launcher is being transferred from BAL to the launch area.
Integration of the upper part of an Ariane 6 booster in the Propulsion Integration Building (BIP).
Transfer of the fairing of Ariane 6 launcher on its truck called Upper Composite Trailer (UCT) which ensures its ventilation during transport between the Encapsulation Building and the launch area.
Removing of the mobile gantry in the launch area, Ariane 6 is now ready for lift-off.
History of launches
Find out more about the history of launches at Europe’s Spaceport, from the first Ariane L01 to the present day.
Lift-off flight VA262.