Europe's heavy lift rocket Ariane 6 just carried more mass to orbit than any European launcher before it. The record came on a flight that also debuted a new, more powerful booster design holding 14 extra tonnes of propellant per unit.
A launch that lifted more than ever before
On 17 June at 09:21 local time, Ariane 6 flight VA269 lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket carried 36 satellites for Amazon's LEO constellation into orbit just over an hour after launch. That number of satellites is four more than the two previous LEO missions Ariane 6 had flown. The previous European payload record belonged to an Ariane 5 mission in 2013 that delivered ESA's 20 tonne supply module ATV Albert Einstein to the International Space Station.
New boosters that changed the rocket's performance
This flight marked the first use of four boosters based on the P160C solid propellant motor. Each P160C holds 156 tonnes of propellant and stands 14.5 meters tall, one meter taller than the earlier P120C. The extra height does not change how the booster connects to the rocket's central core or the overall height of the booster assembly. The P160C boosters can increase Ariane 6's performance by 10 to 15 percent depending on the target orbit. The same motor technology is shared with ESA's smaller Vega C rocket, which lowers costs and improves the supply chain for both vehicles.
Why this matters for Europe's space ambitions
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said the launch proves Ariane 6 can deliver all types of missions to all orbits, giving Europe more confidence in its autonomous access to space. He noted that the rocket was designed as a modular launcher and has now flown in three different versions in just two years. ESA Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja called it the most powerful launch in Europe's history and a demonstration of European engineering excellence. The mission was the eighth successful insertion in a row for Ariane 6. The rocket lifted off just six months after the first flight of the four booster version of Ariane 6.
