Moving the upper composite with the payloads to be launched on the first Ariane 6 at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, 14 June 2024.
Inside the rocket’s fairing – a nosecone that splits into two vertically after liftoff – is hardware from experiments, deployers, satellites and reentry capsules. This plethora of missions is being supplied by space agencies, commercial companies, research institutes, universities and young professionals. The upper part of the rocket was moved from the encapsulation hall in Europe’s Spaceport to the launch pad in the morning, and placed on top of the rocket.
Europe’s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions, each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether launching new satellites to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6’s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher.
Ariane 6 is Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, 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.