Copernical Team
Ariane 6 takes flight
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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 first liftoff
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03:04:20
Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 powered Europe into space taking with it a varied selection of experiments, satellites, payload deployers and reentry demonstrations that represent thousands across Europe, from students to industry and experienced space actors.
This inaugural flight, designated VA262, is a demonstration flight to show the capabilities and prowess of Ariane 6 in escaping Earth's gravity and operating in space. Nevertheless, it had several passengers on board.
Ariane 6 was built by prime contractor and design authority ArianeGroup. In addition to the rocket, the liftoff demonstrated the functioning of the launch pad and operations on ground at
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space
Countdown to first launch of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket
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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 the day of launch
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Ariane 6 the day of launch Ariane 6 revealed as nine-story mobile building rolls back from the launch pad
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Ariane 6 revealed as nine-story mobile building rolls back from the launch pad Ariane 6 sees 'first light' as mobile gantry is rolled back before fuelling begins
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Ariane 6 sees 'first light' as mobile gantry is rolled back before fuelling begins Ariane 6 from above in the final hours before liftoff
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Ariane 6 from above in the final hours before liftoff SpaceX sends up Space Coast's 50th rocket launch of the year
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SpaceX continued the Space Coast's record rocket launch pace with a July 8 evening liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
A Falcon 9 rocket on the Turksat-6A mission carrying a Turkish communications satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
This was the 15th flight of the first-stage booster, which made a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic.
It was the 50th launch of the year from either Canaveral or neighboring Kennedy Space Center, with SpaceX responsible for 47 of them.
The other three have been from United Launch Alliance during a year that could see more than 100 missions fly for the first time, besting 2023's record of 72 launches.
Both SpaceX and ULA have more launch plans for later this month, including SpaceX's next Starlink launch, slated for July 12. ULA is targeting no earlier than July 30 for an Atlas V mission on the USSF-51 mission for the Space Force, while SpaceX is prepping for the return of billionaire Jared Isaacman to space on the Polaris Dawn mission no earlier than July 31.
Call for ideas on navigation demonstrators and technologies
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Do you want to help shape the future of European satellite navigation? ESA is issuing an open call via OSIP for companies and researchers to help identify future navigation demonstrators and disruptive technologies that will shape the landscape of satellite navigation in the coming decades.
