Ariane 6 with four boosters on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, ready for liftoff of flight VA267, 12 February 2026.
This launch was the first to fly with four boosters, doubling liftoff thrust for the launcher, and saw Ariane 6 take 32 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation to orbit. The satellites are housed under the 20-m long fairing – the nose-cone that splits into two vertically after launch. The fairing protects the satellites from the elements and provides an aerodynamic shape as Ariane 6 will rocket into space. These indispensable launcher parts come in two variants, 20 or 14 metres tall, to accommodate passengers of various sizes – this launch will be the first to use the 20-m tall version. The larger fairing type weighs in at 2.6 tonnes, the smaller 1.8 tonnes, and both match the rocket’s diameter of 5.4 metres. Each shell of the fairing is manufactured in one piece from carbon fibre material and cured in an industrial oven to solidify into its final shape and form.
Ariane 6 launcher elements are manufactured in mainland Europe and then transported by ship and then trucks to Europe’s Spaceport.
The Upper Composite Trailer that takes the payload in its fairing to the launch pad is 6 m wide and 26 m long. This trailer is as large as a tennis court and has two driver cabins – instead of “reversing” the driver can jump out and walk to the other side to drive in the opposite direction. At 180 tonnes it has 32 wheels and three generators for power.
The four boosters used on this flight are connected to the central core on the launch pad. The booster structures are produced in Italy and then filled with solid propellant at Europe’s Spaceport at their booster finishing facility. Ariane 6 flight VA267 will be the first flight to use four boosters to get to orbit. Each P120C solid rocket booster is 13.5 m long and 3.4 m in diameter. 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 mobile building surrounding Ariane 6 is a 90-metre-high metallic structure that rolls away once assembly is complete to allow Ariane 6 a clear view of the sky and space. The building has platforms for technicians to further assemble Ariane 6 while also protecting the rocket until it is ready for launch.
Ariane 6 is Europe’s newest heavy-lift rocket, designed to provide great power and flexibility at a lower cost than its predecessors. The rocket provides Europe with greater efficiency and an ensures access to space for the benefits of humankind, allowing for all types of missions from exploration to navigation, science and communications.