Ariane 6: The New Launcher of Arianespace

Ariane 6, the new launcher of Arianespace, is undergoing tests for its first flight scheduled for the next year. The Vulcain 2.1 engine, a improved version of the Vulcain 2 engine, has completed qualification tests and will be integrated on a representative first stage. Ariane 6 is expected to perform diverse missions, including mega-constellations of satellites, smallsats, flexible satellites, and institutional missions. The European states have agreed to compensate Arianegroup if institutional missions are not found. Additionally, Arianegroup is exploring the development of a reusable launcher as part of the Ariane Next program, but there are concerns about the potential impact of American launchers on Ariane 6.