Ariane 6 takes flight
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 14:33![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2024/07/ariane_6_takes_flight3/26221708-2-eng-GB/Ariane_6_takes_flight_card_full.jpg)
Ariane 6 launches to the sky on 9 July 2024.
Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, it is designed to provide great power and flexibility at a lower cost than its predecessors. The launcher’s configuration – with an upgraded main stage, a choice of either two or four powerful boosters and a new restartable upper stage – will provide Europe with greater efficiency and possibility as it can launch multiple missions into different orbits on a single flight, while its upper stage will deorbit itself at the end of mission.
Ariane 6 VA262
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 14:33![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2024/07/ariane_6_va262/26221708-2-eng-GB/Ariane_6_VA262_card_full.jpg)
Launch of Ariane 6 VA262 on 9 July 2024 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
This is Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, designed to provide greater power and flexibility at a lower cost than its predecessors. The launcher’s configuration – with an upgraded main stage, a choice of either two or four powerful boosters and a new restartable upper stage – will provide Europe with greater efficiency and possibility as it can launch multiple missions into different orbits on a single flight, while its upper stage will be able to deorbit itself at the end of missions.
Ariane 6 from above in the final hours before liftoff
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:41![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Ariane 6 from above in the final hours before liftoff](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2024/07/ariane_6_from_above_in_the_final_hours_before_liftoff/26220789-1-eng-GB/Ariane_6_from_above_in_the_final_hours_before_liftoff_card_full.jpg)
Germany's Integral Role in the Ariane 6 Launch Program
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/ariane-6-during-nighttime-rehearsal-bg.jpg)
Artemis IV Set to Launch with Modernized RS-25 Engines
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/rs-25-engines-sls-bg.jpg)
Orion and SLS Gearing Up for Major Artemis Missions
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/orion-final-assembly-and-system-testing-chamber-bg.jpg)
Martian Atmosphere Unveiled Through Innovative Use of Existing Technology
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/mars-exomars-spix-bg.jpg)
Subaru Telescope Discovers New Objects Beyond the Kuiper Belt
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/subaru-new-2024-kuiper-belt-objects-bg.jpg)
SpaceX Successfully Launches Turkey's First Home-Grown Communications Satellite
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/falcon-9-turksat-6a-candj-bg.jpg)
Nearby Exoplanet Found with Hydrogen Sulfide Atmosphere
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:13![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/hd-189733b-benchmark-planet-atmospheric-characterization-artwork-bg.jpg)
Countdown to first launch of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 13:10![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Ariane 6's maiden flight will carry 17 different 'passengers', including 11 university micro-satellites, as well as re-entry capsules and small scientific experiments. Ariane 6's maiden flight will carry 17 different 'passengers', including 11 university micro-satellites, as well as re-entry capsules and small scientific experiments](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2024/ariane-6s-maiden-fligh.jpg)
After four years of delays, Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket is set to blast off for the first time on Tuesday, carrying with it the continent's hopes of regaining independent access to space.
The inaugural flight of the European Space Agency's (ESA) most powerful rocket yet is scheduled to launch from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 3pm local time (1800 GMT).
Since the last flight of the rocket's workhorse predecessor, Ariane 5, a year ago, Europe has been unable to launch satellites or other missions into space without relying on rivals such as Elon Musk's US firm SpaceX.
So many will be nervously watching the launch, hoping it can bring an end to a difficult era for European space efforts.
Ariane 6 sees 'first light' as mobile gantry is rolled back before fuelling begins
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 12:15![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Ariane 6 sees 'first light' as mobile gantry is rolled back before fuelling begins](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2024/07/ariane_6_sees_first_light_as_mobile_gantry_is_rolled_back_before_fuelling_begins/26220571-1-eng-GB/Ariane_6_sees_first_light_as_mobile_gantry_is_rolled_back_before_fuelling_begins_card_full.jpg)
Ariane 6 revealed as nine-story mobile building rolls back from the launch pad
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 12:00![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Ariane 6 revealed as nine-story mobile building rolls back from the launch pad](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2024/07/ariane_6_revealed_as_nine-story_mobile_building_rolls_back_from_the_launch_pad/26220618-1-eng-GB/Ariane_6_revealed_as_nine-story_mobile_building_rolls_back_from_the_launch_pad_card_full.jpg)