Transferring Ariane 6 booster for flight VA263

Transferring an Ariane 6 booster from the booster finishing facility (known as EFF) to the booster storage building (BSB), 29 November 2024. 

The main components for the second flight of Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 are being assembled Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The two 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 VA263 will use two boosters to get to orbit.

Meanwhile the passenger will be prepared at the payload processing facility and covered by Ariane 6 fairing before being placed on top of the awaiting rocket at the launch pad.

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.