Ariane 64 version
Ariane 64 Ariane 64 (A64)
The heavy configuration of the family, with four P120C boosters and some 860,000 kg at lift-off. Designed for commercial dual launches of geostationary satellites: up to 11,500 kg to transfer orbit and 21,650 kg to low Earth orbit. It first flew in February 2026.
- February 12, 2026
- First launch
- 21,650 kg
- LEO capacity
- 19,120 kN
- Thrust
- No
- Reusable
History
Four boosters
The Ariane 64 is the same vehicle as the A62 with four P120C boosters instead of two, doubling lift-off thrust to 19,120 kN and raising stack mass to about 860,000 kg. From Ariane 5 it inherits the dual geostationary launch capability that is the programme's commercial argument.
Entry into service
The heavy configuration waited for the A62 to prove the vehicle: its first flight came in February 2026. With it, Ariane 6 recovers the commercial segment Ariane 5 served with the ECA version, although the programme still draws criticism over development cost, launch price and the absence of reusability.
Performance
Advertised capacity is 11,500 kg to geostationary transfer orbit and 21,650 kg to low Earth orbit, with 5,000 kg to lunar transfer orbit, 15,500 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit and 8,600 kg on an escape trajectory. The Vinci upper stage, restartable several times, allows payloads to be delivered to different orbits on a single mission.