An overview of Europe's new rocket Ariane 6.

Ariane 6 was designed with versatility in mind. The rocket comes in two versions and has a reignitiable upper stage to launch multiple satellites on a single flight, as well as missions that need a ‘heavy lift’ to the Moon and beyond. Payload carriers allow small satellites to piggyback on a launch providing cost-effective launch opportunities for small companies wanting to access the growing space industry.

Ariane 6 will launch several satellites, deployers and experiments from space agencies, companies, research institutes, universities and young professionals on its first flight.

Ariane 6 follows the hugely successful Ariane 5, Europe's principal rocket for more than a quarter century, flying 117 times between 1996 and 2023 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.