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.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Ariane 6 on the launch pad after its mobile hangar was moved away on 3 March 2025 in preparation for its scheduled to launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 13:24 local time on 3 March 2025 (16:24 GMT, 17:24 CET). This is the first commercial flight for Ariane 6, flight number VA263, operated by Arianespace, carrying the CSO-3 satellite for the French Procurement Agency (DGA) and the French space agency (CNES) on behalf of the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE).
The mobile gantry surrounding Ariane 6 until the day of liftoff is a huge 90-metre-high building on rails that weighs more than the Eiffel tower. Hours before launch it rolls 120 m away from the launch pad in just 20 minutes, leaving Ariane 6 a clear ascent to the skies. The building is oriented to take the steady winds into account that blow in the region, allowing for efficient cooling .
The launch tower provides ventilation for the payloads at the top of the rocket, electricity and liquid propellant that is loaded into Ariane 6 at temperatures below –180°C through connections at ground level for the core stage and higher up for upper stage. The yellow arms that supply propellant to the upper stage are 13 m long and weigh 20 000 kg and can be retracted in less than 2.3 seconds to allow for a clear liftoff.