Europes next-generation rocket Ariane 6 to make historic maiden flight

High-stakes mission for ArianeGroup and ESA

Liftoff scheduled for July 9, 2024

Following several delays, the highly anticipated maiden flight of the new European heavy-lift launch vehicle, Ariane 6, is scheduled for July 9, 2024, from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch window extends from 1500 to 1900 local time.

Ariane 6, developed by ArianeGroup and the European Space Agency (ESA), will replace its highly successful predecessor, Ariane 5. The new rocket is designed to address the growing demand for satellite launches and meet the evolving needs of the space industry.

The first Ariane 6 mission will carry a payload of two telecommunications satellites, OneWeb F9 and Eutelsat Konnect VHTS.