Arianespace Ariane 6

The praise demonstrates that startups are eagerly awaiting the new form of competition in Europe.

Europe is planning to upgrade some of the software on its Ariane 6 heavy rocket to deal with a malfunction during the launcher’s inaugural mission.

Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel said after the July inaugural mission, Arianespace plans 10 flights in 2027 and will average nine or 10 flights from then on.

Europe is pressing ahead with the second Ariane 6 launch, even as program officials continue to assess an upper-stage glitch during the rocket’s first flight.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Launch service provider Arianespace’s order backlog totals 29 missions, with the next being planned for December.

The first Ariane 6 medium- to heavy-lift launcher placed payloads into orbit in its debut flight July 9.

The scheduled July 9 launch kicks off a new era in European space operations.

Ahead of Ariane 6's inaugural mission scheduled for July, its manufacturer ArianeGroup says the demand is there to increase planned production rates.

The Ariane 6 rocket completed its wet-dress rehearsal test as European space officials work to ready their newest launcher for a July 9 inaugural mission.

Ariane 6 will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on June 18.

The European Space Agency has set forth a specific launch date for the much delayed Ariane 6 launch vehicle of July 9.

Startups Isar Aerospace, PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg already have agreed to use the refurbished ELM-Diamant launch complex in Kourou, French Guiana.

The launch will be part of Ariane 6’s development and remain under the ESA’s responsibility.

A record 223 orbital-class rockets lifted off last year, a 20% hike over 2022.

From new fighters to launchers, airline production ramps to air taxi certifications, 2024 will be a busy year.

With the Ariane 6 seeing progress at last and Avio leaving Arianespace, the European Space Agency takes steps toward a competition for Europe’s future launchers.

Major technical issues with the behind-schedule Ariane 6 have been resolved and the schedule has been stabilized, ESA says.

Satellite constellation projects are materializing, creating a need for launches, especially to low Earth orbit.

Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket passes key tests, looks toward first launch in 2024.

The Vulcain 2.1, the main-stage engine on the Ariane 6 launcher under development, was run Sept. 5.

First launch of Europe's new workhorse Ariane 6 is finally coming into view.

Final trials before the inaugural flight of the Ariane 6 launcher saw ESA engineers perform an extensive assessment with the combined test model.

Europe’s workhorse Ariane 5 ends operations after 117 flights.

Arianespace’s workhorse Ariane 5 rocket closed out 27 years of operations on July 5 with its 117th mission.