About ESA
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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Space in Member States
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Spain
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
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Norway
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Poland
Portugal
Czechia
Romania
United Kingdom
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Science & Exploration
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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Enabling & Support
Making space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Artist's view of the Ariane 6 components and payload with two boosters – white background
Ariane 6 is the latest in the Ariane rocket series, taking over from Ariane 5 with a design that will launch massive missions to low-Earth orbit and shoot intrepid explorers far, far out to deep space.
Ariane 6 stands at 56-62 m high depending on the size of the passenger its launching. It is taller (and straighter) than the Leaning Tower of Pisa When carrying its cargo or ‘payload’ it will weigh almost 900 000 kg (900 tonnes), roughly equivalent to two fully loaded Boeing 747-8 airplanes.
Ariane 6 has a modular structure consisting of three main portions stacked on top of each other: a main stage with either two or four boosters, an upper (orbital) stage and the payload in its fairing.
The new rocket will be available in two versions depending on the amount of thrust required: the Ariane 62 has two P120C boosters and the Ariane 64 has four, providing extra boost for heavier payloads or destinations further afield.
Ariane 6’s nose cone, technically called the fairing, is 5.4 m wide and fully adapted to carry the widest array of space missions. And it is flexible, available at both 14 m and 20 m tall it could carry four giraffes standing on each other’s shoulders.
The fairing consists of two huge half-shells, made in one piece from carbon-glass fibre composite which is ‘cured’ in an industrial oven, reducing cost and speeding up production. Fewer parts allow for horizontal as well as vertical assembly of the closed fairing and the launch vehicle, which is particularly important for Ariane 6.
Artist's view of the Ariane 6 components with two bo…
Modular and versatile: Ariane 6 components – white b…
Artist's view of the Ariane 6 components and payload…
Artist's view of the Ariane 6 components with two boosters
