Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket debut

The launch of the new Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket aims to restore Europe’s ability to reach
space on its own after a series of delays



SURINAME
Cayenne
FRENCH GUIANA
BRAZIL
Kourou spaceport
100km 60 miles


Payload fairing: 
Diameter: 5.4m 
Height: 14m or 20m

Upper stage: Powered by new Vinci engine that can be reignited up to four times to deliver several satellites in different orbits during same flight

Vinci engine: Fuelled by cryogenic liquid oxygen and hydrogen

Main stage: Powered by liquid-fuelled Vulcain 2.1 engine and two or four P120C strap-on solid boosters for
additional thrust

P120C solid boosters: 142 tonnes of propellant each

Vulcain 2.1 engine
Liquid hydrogen tank
Liquid oxygen tank
Satellite


ARIANE 6
Two versions

A62: Two boosters

A64: Four boosters

			A62		A64
Height:			56-62m*		56 or 62m
Launch weight: 		540 tonnes	870 tonnes
Payloads 
To geostationary orbit: ~4,500kg	~11,500kg
To low Earth orbit: 	~10,300kg 	~21,600kg


*Depending on fairing used


Sources: ESA, Arianespace
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