The first booster of two that will be used on Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 is ready for flight. ArianeGroup teams completed integration of one of the two boosters that will provide the thrust needed for liftoff later this year. It has been moved from the booster finishing facilities to a storage building, to await transfer to the launch pad. The second booster is already being working on, having recently arrived from the propulsion integration building a little further away at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The P120C solid rocket boosters, each 13.5 m long and 3.4 m in diameter are Europe’s solid propulsion workhorse. Filled with about 142 tonnes of solid propellant, they provide around 4500 kN of maximum thrust. Working together the boosters will provide the majority of the thrust during Ariane 6’s launch to get it off the launch pad.

The P120C boosters also ‘double up’ as the first stage motor of the Vega-C rocket, burning for 130 seconds up to an altitude of about 70 km. Developing one motor for two rockets is an achievement of European industry, cutting costs and creating an opportunity for Europe to scale up production.

Ariane 6 is an all-new design, created to succeed Ariane 5 as Europe's heavy-lift launch system. With Ariane 6's upper stage restart capability, Europe's launch capability will be tailored to the needs of multiple payload missions, for example to orbit satellite constellations. This autonomous capability to reach Earth orbit and deep space supports Europe's navigation, Earth observation, scientific and security programmes. Ongoing development of Europe's space transportation capabilities is made possible by the sustained dedication of thousands of talented people working in ESA's 22 Member States.