Ariane 64 version
Ariane 64 Ariane 62 (A62)
The light configuration of the Ariane 6 family, with two P120C solid boosters and about 530,000 kg at lift-off. Aimed mainly at institutional and scientific missions, it places 10,350 kg into low Earth orbit and 4,500 kg into geostationary transfer orbit. It flew the maiden flight on 9 July 2024.
- July 9, 2024
- First launch
- 10,350 kg
- LEO capacity
- 9,560 kN
- Thrust
- No
- Reusable
History
The institutional version
The Ariane 62 straps two P120C solid boosters — the same motors that serve as the Vega-C first stage — around a 5.4 m diameter LLPM core powered by a single Vulcain 2.1 engine. Above it sits the upper stage with the restartable Vinci engine, which allows direct injection and controlled deorbiting. Lift-off thrust in this configuration is 9,560 kN.
Maiden flight
Selected by ESA in December 2014 over an all-solid alternative, Ariane 6 was to fly in 2020; the date slipped to 2021, 2022, 2023 and finally 2024. The first launch took place on 9 July 2024 in the A62 configuration and met its primary objectives, although the upper stage's auxiliary power unit failed late in the mission.
Role
This is the configuration intended for government and scientific payloads: observation, meteorology and navigation satellites that do not need A64 performance. Its components reach the Guiana Space Centre by sea aboard the freighter Canopée, which uses sails to cut fuel consumption.