Image: Artist's view of Europe's launcher family from 2024 onwards

Image: Ariane 6 VA263 liftoff

Image:

Europe’s newest rocket, Ariane 6, took flight for the second time from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 13:24 local time on 6 March (16:24 GMT, 17:24 CET).

This was the first commercial flight for Ariane 6, flight VA263, delivering the CSO-3 satellite to orbit. Arianespace was the operator and launch service provider for the French Procurement agency (DGA) and France’s space agency CNES on behalf of the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE).

The European Launcher Challenge (ELC) is now open to proposals. Details about the ELC Programme can be found here. Any questions should be made exclusively via the dedicated function in esa-star tendering.

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