Ariane 6
Illustration of the two Ariane 6 variants planned, A62 (left) and A64 (right)
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| Function | Medium-heavy launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Airbus Safran Launchers |
| Project cost | € 3.6 billion |
| Cost per launch | € 90 million (Ariane 64), 75 million (Ariane 62) (2014 est.) (2014) |
| Size | |
| Height | 63 m (207 ft) |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Mass | 500,000–800,000 kg (1,100,000–1,800,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to GTO |
A62: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) A64: 11,000 kg (24,000 lb) or 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) with dual payload |
| Payload to GEO | A64: 4,100 kg (9,000 lb) |
| Payload to 800km SSO | A62: 5,500 kg (12,100 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Ariane |
| Comparable | Vulcan, H3 |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In Development |
| Launch sites | Guiana Space Centre |
| First flight | 2020 (planned) |
| Boosters - Equipped Solid Rocket | |
| No. boosters | 2 or 4 |
| Diameter | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Gross mass | 145,000 kg (320,000 lb) |
| Thrust | 3,500 kN (790,000 lbf) |
| Core stage - Lower Liquid Propulsion Module | |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Gross mass | 150,000 kg (330,000 lb) |
| Engines | Vulcain 2.1 |
| Thrust | 1,350 kN (300,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | LH2 / LOX |
| Upper stage - Upper Liquid Propulsion Module | |
| Diameter | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Gross mass | 30,000 kg (66,000 lb) |
| Engines | Vinci |
| Thrust | 180 kN (40,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | LH2 / LOX |
The Ariane 6 is a launch vehicle under development by the European Space Agency (ESA), with a first test flight scheduled for 2020. If development is completed, it will become the newest member in the Ariane launch vehicle family. The final design was selected by the ESA ministerial-level meeting in December 2014, favoring a liquid-fueled core with large solid rocket boosters over the initial solid-fuel rocket design.
Ariane 6 will come in two variants.
Ariane 6 will be made up of three major structural and propellant-carrying components.
The Lower Liquid Propulsion Module (LLPM), is Ariane 6's first stage and will burn liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) propellant. It will be powered by a single updated version of Ariane 5's Vulcain 2 engine, referred to by ASL as Vulcain 2.1. The LLPM will be 5.4 m (18 ft) in diameter and contain approximately 150 t (170 short tons) of propellant.
Additional thrust for the first stage will be provided by either two or four P120 Solid rocket boosters, known within the Ariane 6's nomenclature as Equipped Solid Rocket (ESR). These boosters will each contain approximately 120 t (130 short tons) propellant and will deliver up to 3,500 kN (790,000 lbf) thrust. Additionally, the P120 is intended to be used on an upgraded Vega launcher.
The Upper Liquid Propulsion Module (ULPM) will be the Ariane 6's upper stage. As the LLPM, it will also be 5.4 m (18 ft) in diameter and burn hydrogen and oxygen as propellant. It will be powered by a Vinci engine providing 180 kN (40,000 lbf) thrust and multiple restart capabilities. It will contain approximately 30 t (33 short tons) of LH2 and LOX propellant.
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