Ariane 6
Europe's modular heavy-lift rocket, flown in two- and four-booster configurations.
Flight record
About Ariane 6
Ariane 6 is the European Space Agency's new flagship launch vehicle, developed to give Europe independent, cost-competitive access to space and to succeed the highly-successful Ariane 5. It uses a hydrogen-fuelled Vulcain 2.1 main engine and a restartable Vinci upper-stage engine, with either two or four solid rocket boosters.
It flies in two configurations: Ariane 62, with two boosters, for medium payloads and lighter institutional missions; and Ariane 64, with four boosters, for heavy dual-payload launches to geostationary transfer orbit. Ariane 6 launches from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.
Configurations
Ariane 62
Two boostersThe lighter configuration, with two strap-on boosters, for medium payloads and institutional and constellation missions.
Ariane 64
Four boostersThe heavy configuration, with four strap-on boosters, for the heaviest payloads and dual-satellite launches to geostationary transfer orbit.
Flight history
Frequently asked questions
Specifications
- Height
- 63 m
- Diameter
- 5.4 m
- Launch mass
- 530 kg
- Payload to
- 10,900 kg
- Payload to
- 5,100 kg
- Payload to
- 6,450 kg
- Thrust at liftoff
- 10,370 kN
- Cost per launch
- $85M
- Reusable
- No
Key dates
- First flight
- Jul 9, 2024
Official links
Ariane 6 launches
Every upcoming and past Ariane 6 launch — live countdowns, mission details and launch history.
Upcoming Launches
Amazon Leo (LE-03)
Jun 30, 2026, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
MTG-I2
Aug 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Metop-SG B1
Oct 6, 2026, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Amazon Leo (LE-04)
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Ariane 64 | GO-1
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Galileo L15 (FOC FM28 & FM31)
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
PLATO
Jan 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
IS-45
Mar 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Galileo L16 (FOC FM29 & FM30)
Mar 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
IS-41 & IS-44
Dec 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Optus-11
Dec 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Hellas Sat 5
Dec 31, 2027, 12:00 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Previous Launches
Amazon Leo (LE-02)
Apr 30, 2026, 8:57 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Amazon Leo (LE-01)
Feb 12, 2026, 4:45 PM
Arianespace
Ariane 64
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Galileo L14 (FOC FM33 & FM34)
Dec 17, 2025, 5:01 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Sentinel-1D
Nov 4, 2025, 9:02 PM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Metop-SG A1
Aug 13, 2025, 12:37 AM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
CSO-3
Mar 6, 2025, 4:24 PM
Arianespace
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Maiden Flight
Jul 9, 2024, 7:00 PM
ESA
Ariane 62
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
More rockets
Ariane 5
RetiredEurope's retired heavy-lift workhorse — famous for launching the James Webb Space Telescope.
Falcon 9
OperationalSpaceX's partially-reusable workhorse — the most-flown orbital rocket in history.
Vulcan Centaur
OperationalULA's next-generation rocket, replacing Atlas V and Delta IV.