 | |
 Mockup of Ariane 6 in the 64 configuration during testing at theGuiana Space Centre | |
| Function | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | ArianeGroup |
| Country of origin | European multi-national[a] |
| Project cost | €3.7 billion[1] |
| Cost per launch | |
| Size | |
| Height | 63 m (207 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Mass |
|
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload toLEO | |
| Mass | |
| Payload toGTO | |
| Orbital inclination | 6° |
| Mass | |
| Payload toGEO | |
| Orbital inclination | 0° |
| Mass | A64: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb)[4] |
| Payload toSSO | |
| Orbital inclination | 97.4° |
| Mass | |
| Payload toLTO | |
| Orbital inclination | 97.4° |
| Mass | |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Ariane |
| Based on | Ariane 5 |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Guiana,ELA-4 |
| Total launches | 4 |
| Success(es) | 3 |
| Partial failure | 1 (VA262) |
| First flight | 9 July 2024 (2024-07-09)[5] |
| Last flight | 4 November 2025(most recent) |
| Boosters –P120C | |
| No. boosters | 2 or 4 |
| Diameter | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Propellant mass | 142,000 kg (313,000 lb) |
| Maximum thrust | 3,500 kN (790,000 lbf) each |
| Total thrust |
|
| Burn time | 130 seconds |
| Propellant | HTPB /AP /Al |
| First stage –LLPM | |
| 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) |
| Burn time | 468 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX /LH2 |
| Second stage –ULPM | |
| 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) |
| Burn time | Up to 900 seconds and four burns[6] |
| Propellant | LOX /LH2 |
Ariane 6 is a Europeanexpendable launch system developed for theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) andFrench Space Agency (CNES) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies, led by the prime contractorArianeGroup. As part of theAriane rocket family, it is operated byArianespace, replacing theAriane 5. The project's primary contributors were France (55.3%), Germany (21%) and Italy (7.6%), with the remaining work distributed among ten other participating countries.[7]
This two-stage rocket utilizesliquid hydrogen andliquid oxygen (hydrolox) engines. The first stage features an upgradedVulcain engine from Ariane 5, while the second uses theVinci engine, designed specifically for this rocket. The Ariane 62 variant uses twoP120C solid rocket boosters, while Ariane 64 uses four. The P120C booster is shared with Europe's other launch vehicle, and is an improved version of theP80 used on the originalVega.
Selected in December 2014 over an all-solid-fuel alternative, Ariane 6 was initially planned for a 2020 debut. However, the program faced delays, with the first launch eventually taking place on 9 July 2024. While the rocket successfully launched, the mission experienced a partial failure when the upper stage malfunctioned and was not able to complete its final deorbit burn. The second launch was therefore postponed to 6 March 2025, successfully delivering its first commercial payload to orbit, theCSO-3 reconnaissance satellite.[8][9]
Ariane 6 was designed to halve launch costs (a target it so far failed to meet), and increase annual capacity from seven to eleven missions compared to its predecessor. The program has been subject to criticism over high costs and lack ofreusability versus competitors' rockets, such asSpaceX'sFalcon 9. European officials defend the program, saying it provides crucial independent space access for its member states.
As of the end of 2025, Ariane 6 has more than 30 flights booked (4 years of activity ensured) including 18 launches for the Amazon Kuiper constellation of satellites.[10]
Two variants of Ariane 6 are offered:
The first (lower) stage of Ariane 6 is called the Lower Liquid Propulsion Module (LLPM). It is powered by a singleVulcain 2.1 engine fueled byliquid hydrogen (LH2) withliquid oxygen (LOX).[13] The LLPM is 5.4 m (18 ft) in diameter and contains approximately 140 tonnes (310,000 lb) of propellant.[14]
Additional thrust for the first stage will be provided by either two or fourP120C modelsolid rocket boosters, known within Ariane 6 nomenclature as Equipped Solid Rockets (ESR).[13] Each booster contains approximately 142,000 kilograms (313,000 lb) of propellant and delivers up to 4,650 kN (1,050,000 lbf) of thrust. The P120C engine is also used in the first stage of the upgradedVega C launcher. By sharing motors, production volumes can be increased, lowering production costs.[15] The first full-scale test of the ESR occurred at Kourou, French Guiana, on 16 July 2018, and the test completed successfully with thrust reaching 4,615 kN (1,037,000 lbf) in vacuum.[16][17][18]
The second (upper) stage of Ariane 6 is called the Upper Liquid Propulsion Module (ULPM). It shares the same 5.4 m (18 ft) diameter as the LLPM and is also fueled by LH2 and LOX. It is powered by theVinci engine, which delivers 180 kN (40,000 lbf) of thrust, burns for up to 900 seconds and is capable of up to five restarts.[19] The ULPM carries about 31 tonnes (68,000 lb) of propellant.[15]
A more powerful "Block 2" version of Ariane 6 is slated to enter service in 2026, featuring enlargedP160C solid rocket boosters and an enhanced Vinci engine in the upper stage with increased thrust of 200 kN (45,000 lbf). These improvements will expand the rocket’s flight envelope and significantly boost its payload capacity, with an expected gain of 2 tonnes (4,400 lb) to low Earth orbit on the Ariane 64.[20][21]
Development of the P160C boosters began in 2022. The upgraded boosters are extended by 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) to carry an additional 14 tonnes (31,000 lb) of propellant.[22] Notably, 16 of the 18 plannedKuiper launches on Ariane 6 will incorporate this upgraded booster.[21] The first P160C booster casing was built in June 2024,[23] with fueling and static fire tests anticipated in 2025.[24]
To support these more powerful rockets,CNES is assisting in modifying the existing launch pad.[25]
An additional Block 3 upgrade is being discussed by the European Space Agency, ArianeGroup and CNES. Increased performance will primarily be achieved via an upgraded upper stage.[20]
The impetus for the upgrade is a number of upcoming lunar missions, including the European Argonaut logistics lunar lander project. A decision is expected during the November 2025 European ministerial meeting.
Thepayload fairing, constructed byBeyond Gravity from acarbon fibre-polymer composite, is designed as a nose cone that splits vertically into two halves at the top of the Ariane 6 rocket.[26] It is available in two sizes: a long 20-metre (66 ft) version and a short 14-metre (46 ft) version, both with a diameter of 5.4 metres (18 ft).[27] The interior of the cylindrical payload compartment is 4.6 metres (15 ft) in diameter and the long variant measures 11 metres (36 ft) in height, or 18 metres (59 ft) when including the conical portion of the fairing.[28]
Ariane 6 was conceived in the early 2010s to be a replacement launch vehicle for Ariane 5, and a number of concepts and high-level designs were suggested and proposed during 2012–2015. Development funding from several European governments was secured by early 2016, and contracts were signed to begin detailed design and the build of test articles. In 2019, the maiden orbital flight had been planned for 2020,[29] however by May 2020, the planned initial launch date was delayed into 2021.[30] In October 2020, theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) formally requested an additional€230 million in funding from the countries sponsoring the project to complete development of the rocket and get the vehicle to its firsttest flight, which had slipped to the second quarter of 2022.[31] By June 2021, the date had delayed to late 2022.[32] In June 2022, a delay was announced to "some time in 2023"[33] and by October 2022, ESA clarified that the first launch would be no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2023, while providing no public reason for the delay.[34] In August 2023, ESA announced that the date for the first launch had slipped again to 2024.[35]
Following detailed definition studies in 2012,[36] ESA announced in July 2013 the selection of the "PPH" (first stage of three P145 rocket motors, second stage of one P145 rocket motor, and H32 cryogenic upper stage) configuration for Ariane 6.[37] It would be capable of launching up to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) toGeostationary transfer orbit (GTO),[38] with a first flight projected to be as early as 2021–2022.[39] Development was projected to cost €4 billion as of May 2013[update].[40] A 2014 study concluded that development cost could be reduced to about €3 billion by limiting contractors to five countries.[41]
While Ariane 5 typically launches one large and one medium satellite at a time, the PPH proposal for Ariane 6 was intended for single payloads, with an early 2014 price estimate of approximately US$95 million per launch.[42] TheSpaceXFalcon 9 and theChineseLong March 3B both launch smaller payloads but at lower prices, approximately $57 million and $72 million respectively as of early 2014, making the Falcon 9 launch of a midsize satellite competitive with the cost of the lower slot of a dual payload Ariane 5.[42] For lightweight all-electric satellites, Arianespace intended to use the restartable Vinci engine to deliver the satellites closer to their operational orbit than the Falcon 9 could, thus reducing the time required to transfer to geostationary orbit by several months.[42]
In June 2014,Airbus andSafran surprised ESA by announcing a counter proposal for the Ariane 6 project: a 50/50 joint venture to develop the rocket, which would also involve buying out the French government'sCNES interest in Arianespace.[43][44]
This proposed launch system would come in two variants, Ariane 6.1 and Ariane 6.2.[45] While both would use a cryogenic main stage powered by aVulcain 2 engine and two P145 solid boosters, Ariane 6.1 would feature a cryogenic upper stage powered by the Vinci engine and boost up to 8,500 kg (18,700 lb) to GTO, while Ariane 6.2 would use a lower-costhypergolic upper stage powered by theAestus engine. Ariane 6.1 would have the ability to launch twoelectrically powered satellites at once, while Ariane 6.2 would be focused on launching government payloads.
French newspaperLa Tribune questioned whetherAirbus Defence and Space could deliver on the promised costs for their Ariane 6 proposal, and whether Airbus and Safran Group could be trusted when they were found to be responsible for a failure of Ariane 5 flight 517 in 2002 and a more recent 2013 failure of theM51 ballistic missile.[46] The companies were also criticised for being unwilling to incur development risks, and asking for higher initial funding than originally planned – €2.6 billion instead of€2.3 billion. Estimated launch prices of€85 million for Ariane 6.1 and€69 million for Ariane 6.2 did not compare favorably to SpaceX offerings.[47] During the meeting of EU ministers in Geneva on 7 June 2014, these prices were deemed too high and no agreement with manufacturers was reached.[48]
Following criticism of the Ariane 6 PPH design, France unveiled a revised Ariane 6 proposal in September 2014.[49] This launcher would use a cryogenic main stage powered by the Vulcain 2 and upper stage powered by the Vinci but vary the number of solid boosters. With two P120C boosters, Ariane 6 would launch up to 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) to GTO at a cost of €75 million. With four boosters, Ariane 6 would be able to launch two satellites totaling 11,000 kg (24,000 lb) to GTO at a cost of €90 million.[50]
This proposal, unlike Ariane 6 PPH, offered a scalable launcher while retaining Ariane 5's dual-launch capability. The proposal also included simplification of the industrial and institutional organisation along with a better and cheaper version of the Vulcain 2 engine for the main stage.[49][50] Although Ariane 6 was projected to have "lower estimated recurring production costs", it was projected to have "a higher overall development cost owing to the need for a new, Ariane 6-dedicated, launch pad".[51]
The Italian, French, and German space ministers met on 23 September 2014, in order to plan strategy and assess the possibility for agreement on funding for the Ariane 5 successor,[52] and in December 2014, ESA selected the Ariane 62 and Ariane 64 designs for development and funding.[53]
At the 2022International Astronautical Congress, ArianeGroup announced the proposed "Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration", a reusable upper stage for the 64 (or later) variant, capable of autonomous cargo operations or carrying five astronauts to LEO.[54]
In November 2015, an updated design of Ariane 64 and 62 was presented, with new nose cones on the boosters, main stage diameter increased to 5.4 m (18 ft), and the height decreased to 60 m (200 ft).[55]
The basic design for Ariane 6 was finalised in January 2016 as anexpendable liquid-fuelled core stage plus expendable solid-rocket-boosters design. Development advanced into detailed design and production phases, with the first major contracts already signed.[56][57] Unlike previous Ariane rockets, which are assembled and fueled vertically before being transported to the launchpad, the Ariane 6 main stages were to be assembled horizontally at the new integration hall inLes Mureaux and then transported to French Guiana, to be erected and integrated with boosters and payload.[58]
The horizontal assembly process was inspired by the Russian tradition forSoyuz andProton launchers – which had more recently been applied to the AmericanDelta IV and Falcon 9 boosters[59] – with a stated goal of halving production costs.[60]
The industrial production process was completely overhauled, allowing synchronized workflow between several European production sites moving at a monthly cadence, which would enable twelve launches per year, doubling Ariane 5's yearly capacity.[58] To further lower the price, Ariane 6 engines were to use3D printed components.[61] Ariane 6 was to be the first large rocket to use a laser ignition system developed by Austria's Carinthian Research Center (CTR), that was previously deployed in automotive and turbine engines.[62] A solid state laser offers an advantage over electrical ignition systems in that it is more flexible with regards to the location of the plasma within the combustion chamber, offers a much higher pulse power and can tolerate a wider range of fuel-air mixture ratios.[63]
Reorganisation of the industry behind a new launch vehicle, leading to the creation ofAirbus Safran Launchers (ASL), also started a review by the French government into tax matters, and theEuropean Commission over a possible conflict of interest if Airbus Defence and Space, a satellite manufacturer, were to purchase launches from ASL.[61]
While development was initially slated to be substantially complete in 2019, with an initial launch in 2020, the initial launch date has slipped several times: first to 2021,[64] then to 2022,[31][32] then to 2023,[33] and then to 2024.[65] In October 2022, Arianespace expected the maiden flight to occur in 2023,[34] although in December 2023, Arianespace once again set the flight to occur on 15 June 2024.[65] In June 2024,ESA Executive said its first launch was postponed to July 9th 2024.[66] Themaiden flight VA262 took place 9 July 2024 and successfully orbited some satellites even though the mission did suffer some problems.
CNES began studies in 2010[67] on an alternative, reusable first stage for Ariane 6, using a mix of liquid oxygen andliquid methane rather than liquid hydrogen that is used in the 2016 Ariane 6 first-stage design. The methane-powered core could use one or more engines, matching capabilities of Ariane 64 with only two boosters instead of four. As of January 2015[update], the economic feasibility of reusing an entire stage remained in question. Concurrent with theliquid fly-back booster research in the late 1990s and early 2000s, CNES along with Russia concluded studies[when?] indicating that reusing the first stage was economically unviable as manufacturing ten rockets a year was cheaper and more feasible than recovery, refurbishment and loss of performance caused byreusability.[68]
In June 2015, Airbus Defence and Space announced that Adeline, a partially reusable first stage, would become operational between 2025 and 2030 and that it would be developed as a subsequent first stage for Ariane 6. Rather than developing a way to reuse an entire first stage (like SpaceX), Airbus proposed a system where only high-value parts would be safely returned using a winged module at the bottom of the rocket stack.[67]
In August 2016, ASL gave some more details about future development plans building on the Ariane 6 design. CEO Alain Charmeau revealed that Airbus Safran were now working along two main lines: first, continuing work (at the company's own expense) on the recoverableAdeline engine-and-avionics module; and second, beginning development of a next-generation engine to be calledPrometheus. This engine would have about the same thrust as the Vulcain 2 currently powering Ariane 5 but would burn methane instead of liquid hydrogen. Charmeau was non-committal about whether Prometheus (still only in the first few months of development) could be used as an expendable replacement for the Vulcain 2 in Ariane 6, or whether it was tied to the re-usable Adeline design, saying only that "We are cautious, and we prefer to speak when are sure of what we announce... But certainly this engine could very well fit with the first stage of Ariane 6 one day", a decision on whether to proceed with Prometheus in an expendable or reusable role could be made between 2025 and 2030.[69] Charmeau was not positive about reusability in 2018, stating that if Ariane had a launch schedule of ten flights per year and had a rocket that could be reused ten times, the company would only build one rocket per year, making supporting an ongoing manufacturing supply chain unviable ("I cannot tell my teams: Goodbye, see you next year!"). Ariane would need 30 launches a year to justify the cost of researching reusability, he said.[70]
In 2017, the Prometheus engine project was revealed to have the aim of reducing the engine unit cost from the €10 million of the Vulcain2 to €1 million and allowing the engine to be reused up to five times.[71] The engine development is said to be part of a broader effort – codenameAriane NEXT[72] – to reduce Ariane launch costs by a factor of two beyond improvements brought by Ariane 6. The Ariane NEXT initiative includes a reusable sounding rocket,Callisto, to test the performance of various fuels in new engine designs.[73]
The European Space Agency is exploringhuman-rating certification for Ariane 6, awarding Arianespace a contract to explore potential options for enabling crewed missions to be launched aboard the vehicle.[74]
In a January 2019 interview, Arianespace CEOStéphane Israël said that the company would require four more institutional launches for Ariane 6 to sign a manufacturing contract. Launch contracts would be needed for the transitional period of 2020–2023 when Ariane 5 will be phased out and gradually replaced by Ariane 6. The company would require European institutions to become an anchor customer for the launcher. In response, ESA representatives said the agency was working on shifting the 2022 launch of theJupiter Icy Moons Explorer from Ariane 5 ECA to Ariane 64, further indicating that there are other institutional customers in Europe that must put their weight behind the project, such as theEuropean Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) or the European Commission.
As of January 2019[update], Arianespace had sold three flights of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle.[75] One month later, they added asatellite internet constellation launch contract withOneWeb to utilize the maiden launch of Ariane 6 to help populate the large 600-satellite constellation.[76]
On 6 May 2019, Arianespace ordered the first production batch of 14 Ariane 6 rockets.[77]
In 2024, Arianespace expected that their launch tempo would increase to six in 2025, eight in 2026, and stabilize at ten per year starting in 2027.[78]
Rocket components are transported by sea from Europe to the Guiana Space Centre aboard theCanopée, a cargo vessel that uses sails to assist with its propulsion, reducing fuel use.[79][80]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: How much has been the actual funding 2015–2024? and what amount came from each of the major government stakeholders? France? Germany? ... by country. You can help byadding to it.(October 2024) |
Ariane 6 was developed in apublic-private partnership with the majority of the funding coming from various ESA government sources. As of 2015[update], the estimated government development cost over the then planned 6-year development phase through 2020 was€2.815 billion of government-provided funds, while€400 million was reported to be "industry's share". At the time, in a novel approach for ESA, this was to be "an arrangement in which the [Airbus Safran] company takes full control of Ariane 6 design and development and commits to a firm, fixed-price contract"[81]
By the time the ESA Council approved the project in November 2016, the ESA had already paid out€688 million to Airbus Safran[82] and the ESA Industrial Policy Committee released€1.7 billion of additional funds on 8 November 2016.[83]
In January 2020, two EU institutions, the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, loaned €100 million to Arianespace, drawing from theHorizon 2020 and Investment Plan for Europe corporate investment programmes. The 10-year loan's repayment is tied to the financial success of the Ariane 6 project.[84][needs update]
| Flight No. | Date and Time (UTC) | Version, Serial No. | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA262 | 9 July 2024 19:00 | Ariane 62 L6001[85] | Guiana,ELA‑4 | Multiple rideshare payloads | 1,600 kg (3,500 lb)[86] | LEO | Various | Partial failure |
| Maiden flight of Ariane 6. It was aflight test carrying amass simulator plus a number of smallcubesats and other experiments as rideshare payloads. Rocket launched successfully to orbit and upper stage performed a second burn to release cubesats. During attempt to perform a third burn to deorbit the upper stage, the rocket's auxiliary propulsion system failed. This failure prevented the upper stage from relighting.[87][88][89][90] | ||||||||
| VA263 | 6 March 2025 16:24 | Ariane 62 L6002[91] | Guiana,ELA‑4 | CSO-3 | 3,655 kg (8,058 lb) | SSO | CNES /DGA | Success |
| French militaryreconnaissance satellite. First recompensed launch for Ariane 6. After releasing the satellite following two burns of the upper stage, the Vinci engine successfully completed a third burn to reenter Earth's atmosphere, a maneuver that had failed in the first Ariane 6 flight.[92] | ||||||||
| VA264 | 13 August 2025 00:37[93] | Ariane 62 L6003 | Guiana,ELA‑4 | MetOp-SG A1/Sentinel-5A | 4,040 kg (8,910 lb) | SSO | EUMETSAT | Success |
| Second-generation polar-orbiting meteorological satellite system to replace the first-generation METOP satellites. | ||||||||
| VA265 | 4 November 2025 21:02[94] | Ariane 62 L6004 | Guiana,ELA‑4 | Sentinel-1D | 2,184 kg (4,815 lb) | SSO | ESA | Success |
| Radar imaging satellite. Second of two additional satellites in theSentinel-1 constellation, part of theCopernicus programme onEarth observation. The satellite is equipped with aC-SAR sensor, capable of providing high-resolution imagery regardless of weather conditions. | ||||||||
| Date Time (UTC) | Type | Payload | Orbit | Customers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 December 2025 05:01[95] | Ariane 62 | GalileoFOC FM 33, 34 | MEO | ESA |
| Two navigation satellites for the Galileo system | ||||
| Q1 2026[96] | Ariane 64 | KuiperSat × 30+ | LEO | Amazon (Kuiper Systems) |
| First Ariane 64 launch and first Ariane launch for Project Kuiper | ||||
| Q2 2026[97] | Ariane 62 | MetOp-SG-B1[98] | SSO | EUMETSAT |
| Q3 2026[99] | Ariane 64[100] | MTG-I2[101] | GTO | EUMETSAT |
| December 2026[102][103] | Ariane 62[104] | PLATO | Sun–EarthL2 | ESA |
| 2026[105] | Ariane 64 | Multi-Launch Service (MLS) #1 rideshare mission | GTO | TBA |
| 2026[106] | Ariane 62 | EDRS-D | MEO | ESA |
| 2026[107][108] | Ariane 64 | Intelsat 41, 44 | GTO | Intelsat |
| 2026[109][110] | Ariane 62 | GalileoFOC FM 28, 31 | MEO | ESA |
| 2026 | Ariane 62 | GalileoFOC FM 29, 30 | MEO | ESA |
| 2026[111][112] | Ariane 64 | Uhura-1 (Node-1)[113] | GTO | Skyloom |
| Q1 2027[114] | Ariane 64 | Intelsat 45 | GTO | Intelsat |
| 2027[105] | Ariane 64 | MLS #2 rideshare mission | GTO | TBA |
| 2027[115][116] | Ariane 64 | Optus-11 | GTO | Optus |
| 2027[117] | Ariane 64 | Earth Return Orbiter | Areocentric | ESA |
| 2027[118] | Ariane 6 | GalileoG2 1, 2 | MEO | ESA |
| 2027[119] | Ariane 6 | GalileoG2 3, 4 | MEO | ESA |
| 2027[120] | Ariane 6 | Hellas Sat 5 | GTO | Hellas Sat |
| Q4 2028[105] | Ariane 64 | MLS #3 rideshare mission | GTO | TBA |
| Q3 2029[105] | Ariane 64 | MLS #4 rideshare mission | GTO | TBA |
| 2029[121] | Ariane 62 | ARIEL,Comet Interceptor | Sun–EarthL2 | ESA |
| 2031[122] | Ariane 64 | Argonaut Mission 1 | TLI | ESA |
| 2035[123] | Ariane 64[124] | Athena | Sun–EarthL2, Halo orbit | ESA |
| 2035[125] | Ariane 6 | LISA | Heliocentric | ESA |
| TBD[126] | TBD[126] | Project Kuiper | LEO | Amazon (Kuiper Systems) |
| Satellite internet constellation. Remaining 17 of the 18 currently scheduled Ariane 6 Kuiper launches.[127] | ||||
| TBD[128] | Ariane 62 | Electra | GTO | SES S.A. /ESA |
| TBD[128] | Ariane 62 | Eutelsat ×3 | GTO | Eutelsat |
The Ariane 6 programme has faced substantial criticism for its cost per launch and lack of reusability. When the programme was approved by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2012, the programme was intended to produce a modernised successor to the Ariane 5 with a focus on cost optimisation. However, over the course of its more than a decade-long development, the project experienced delays and cost overruns.[129] Initially expected to be 50% cheaper than its predecessor, the Ariane 6 now has projected launch prices exceeding €100 million per mission — above the original estimates of €70 million for the A62 and €90 million for the A64.[130] The cost per launch has limited the rocket's appeal to commercial clients outside of Europe.[131]
A major criticism of the Ariane 6 stems from its reliance on expendable technology at a time when competitors have demonstrated the economic advantages of reusability. For example, SpaceXiteratively developed its Falcon 9 rocket, nearly doubling its payload capacity and making it partially reusable, lowering the company's costs to launch.[132] Some industry experts argued that the decision to forego reusability rendered the Ariane 6 "already obsolete" before it even entered service.[129]
European officials, however, have defended the Ariane 6, citing the strategic need for independent access to space. They point to geopolitical disruptions, such as losing access to RussianSoyuz-ST rockets, as evidence of the necessity for a self-reliant European capability. Officials have also justified the rocket’s lack of reusability by arguing that the relatively low number of planned launches would make such a feature economically unviable.[133][134]
To support the programme, ESA's member states have agreed to subsidise the Ariane 6 with up to €340 million annually from its 16th to its 42nd flight, expected to occur by 2031.[135] In exchange, governments will receive an 11% discount on launches.[133][136]
Ariane 6 would fly in 2020 assuming a development go-ahead in 2014. CNES's Ariane 6 team is operating under the "triple-seven" mantra, meaning seven years' development, 7 metric tons of satellite payload to geostationary transfer orbit and 70 million euros in launch costs.CNES estimates that Ariane 6 would cost 4 billion euros to develop, including ESA's customary program management fees and a 20% margin that ESA embeds in most of its programs.
As SpaceX and other launch contenders enter the sector – including new rockets in India, China and Russia – Europe is also investing in a midlife upgrade of Ariane 5, theAriane 5 ME (Midterm Evolution), which aims to boost performance 20% with no corresponding increase in cost. At the same time, Europe is considering funding a smaller, less capable but more affordable successor to the heavy-lift launcher, Ariane 6, which would send up to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) to GTO for around US$95 million per launch.
European space-hardware builders Airbus and Safran have proposed that the French and European space agencies scrap much of their previous 18 months' work on a next-generation Ariane 6 rocket in favour of a design that includes much more liquid propulsion.
The space ministers of France, Germany and Italy are scheduled to meet on September 23 in Zurich to assess how far they are from agreement on strategy and funding for Europe's next-generation Ariane rocket, upgrades to the light-lift Vega vehicle and — as a lower priority — their continued participation in the international space station. The meeting should give these governments a better sense of whether a formal conference of European Space Agency ministers scheduled for December 2 in Luxembourg will be able to make firm decisions, or will be limited to expressions of goodwill.
Officials said the preliminary plan calls for the Ariane 6 rocket to be integrated horizontally, a practice long used for Russian launchers and more recently adopted byUnited Launch Alliance's Delta 4 rocket family andSpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
When it comes to Ariane 64, we are at around US$90 to US$100 million, as opposed to Ariane 5, which is in terms of cost, around US$200 million. You see with the effort we're making, we want to reduce the cost around 40/50%, which is very ambitious.
Our plan is to launch the product into space by 2026.
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